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Bessie Belle (Lytle) Brady
(1889-1966)

Bess Brady
Bessie Belle "Bess" (Lytle) Brady
was born in April 5, 1889, in McLuney, Perry County, Ohio, the daughter of John Thomas and Elizabeth "Lizzie" (Miner) Lytle. The family lived near Lizzie’s parents, Thomas and Maletha (Ogburn) Miner.

When Bess was a young girl, the Lytles moved to Cambria County, PA, where John found work in the coal mines there. In about 1899, the Lytles made their permanent home in the small borough of Lilly on Railroad Street, so named because it ran alongside the railroad track of the busy Pennsylvania Railroad.

Bess, like her father, was a gifted painter.

On Nov. 30, 1904, her sister Edna gave birth to a daughter named Pearl. Edna was young and unwed, so John and Lizzie raised the little girl as their own.

Then on April 13, 1906, Bess gave birth to a boy, John Sherwood Lytle, who they nicknamed "Pete." Bess was only 16 and unmarried, so her parents also took in the boy Pete as their own as well.

On March 7, 1916, Bess’s father died of tuberculosis at the age of 57. 

Around 1918 Bess married Jacob Victor Brady Sr. (1882-1964), a native of Lilly. He was a veteran of World War I, having served as a sergeant with the 12th Regiment. 

They together produced these children: Jacob Victor "Jake" Brady Jr., Clarence L. "EI" Brady, Sarah Elizabeth "Betty" Airhart, Anna Mae Fletcher, and Richard S. "Dick" Brady.

By 1930 the Bradys made their permanent home at 815 Braddock Road in Forest Hills, Allegheny County, PA.

On March 23, 1964, Jacob died suddenly at home of heart disease. He was 81. An obituary in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said he was survived by nine grandchildren.

Bess remained in her longtime Braddock Road home for the rest of her life. Suffering from heart disease, diabetes and breast cancer, she died less than two years after her spouse, in Braddock General Hospital, on Jan. 30, 1966. Her son Jacob signed the official Pennsylvania certificate of death.

They are buried at Restland Memorial Park Cemetery in Monroeville, Allegheny County, PA. 

~ Son John Sherwood "Pete" Brady   ~

Son John Sherwood "Pete" Brady (1906-1978) was born on April 13, 1906.

Pete married Mary Sue ( ? - ? ).

They bore a daughter, Mary Ann Lytle.

The family resided in Linesville, PA, where Pete worked for the department of forestry and waters.

He died on July 25, 1978 in Greenville, PA, at the age of 72.

It is not known what kind of relationship he may have had with with his birth mother.

~ Son Jacob V. "Jake" Brady  ~

Son Jacob V. "Jake" Brady Jr. ( ? -2014) was born in (?).

He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. Evidence suggests that he spent his life as a bachelor.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette once noted that he "was a gentle and caring soul to all who knew him."

Sadly, Jacob died at the age of 95 on April 28, 2014. In his Post-Gazette obituary, the family asked that any memorial donations be made to the Salvation Army.


~ Son Clarence L. "EI" Brady  
~

Son Clarence L. "EI" Brady ( ? - ? )

He served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II, holding the rank of lieutenant. After returning home, he enrolled in Pittsburgh's Ad-Art School.

On June 17, 1950, at the Covenant-Central Presbyterian Church, he was joined in wedlock with Jean L. Peeling ( ? - ? ), daughter of Clarence A. Peeling of near Williamsport, PA. Rev. William A. Morrison officiated, with the news published in the Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Jean was an alumna of Williamsport High School, and at the time of marriage she was employed in the local office of Bell Telephone Company.

He was still living circa 2010.


~ Daughter Sarah Elizabeth  "Betty" (Lytle) Airhart 
~

Daughter Sarah Elizabeth "Betty" Brady (1921-1981) was born on Sept. 2, 1921.

She entered into marriage with Charles F. "Chuck" Airhart (Nov. 20, 1919-2001).

The brood of children they bore together were David Charles Airhart, Diane E. Myers, Donna Thiem and Dorre Weiss.

Charles spent 37 years as sports editor of the Braddock Free Press near Pittsburgh. He often was quoted in Al Abrams' and Joe Browne's columns in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for his observational skills and knowledge of statistics and accomplishments.

The couple dwelled in the Braddock and Swissvale neighborhoods of the city. Their address in 1950 was 1625 Oakgrove Avenue. He was an avid bowler, and they enjoyed summer vacations to Geneva-on-the-Lake.

Grief blanketed the family when Betty died on Oct. 8, 1981 at the untimely age of 60. Her remains were laid to rest in Jefferson Memorial Park in Pittsburgh's South Hills.

Charles survived his wife by two decades and stayed in Swissvale. He was elected to the East Boros Hall of Fame and in the summer of 1982 received a testimonial dinneer at the Braddock Elks Club.

He surrendered to the spirit of death on the Fourth of July 2001.

Son David Charles Airhart (1950- ? ) was born in 1950. News of his birth was printed in the Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. David resided in Penn Hills near Pittsburgh in 2001.

Daughter Diane Airhart married (?) Myers. She dwelled in Levittown, PA in 2001.

Daughter Donna Airhart wed James Thiem. They put down roots in the Pittsburgh suburb of Forest Hills. 

Daughter Dorre Airhart was united in matrimony with Daniel Weiss. Circa 2001, they were in Wilkins Township near Pittsburgh.
 

~ Daughter Anna Mae (Brady) Fletcher  ~

Daughter Anna Mae Brady ( ? - ? )

She wed (?) Fletcher 

~ Son Richard S. "Dick" Brady ~

Son Richard S. "Dick" Brady (1925-2010) was born on June 30, 1925.

During World War II, Richard served in the U.S. Navy. He appears not have married.

He was employed with both the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad and the Pennsylvania Railroad, until retirement.

Richard's adult years were spent in the Pittsburgh suburb of Forest Hills.

He died at the age of 84 on Valentine's Day 2010.

Copyright © 2004, 2022 Craig Adams and Mark A. Miner

Published on Minerd.com with permission