Obituary: Bradley Jayson Keyser-Boswell

The Rev Brad Keyser-Boswell was born October 9, 1959 to R Franklyn “Lyn” Boswell and Ruth Elizabeth “Lib” Ardinger Boswell in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. The only son of Lyn and Lib, he spent his early years near Hagerstown, Maryland. His teen and preteen years were split between various locations in California and Maryland as he moved back and forth between his parents’ homes. He attended three different high schools, including his senior year at Yreka High School in 1977.

After graduating from YHS, Brad worked various blue-collar jobs both in Siskiyou County and later near Salinas, California. He eventually returned to school when he felt the call to the ordained ministry. He first attended Hartnell College before graduating from California Lutheran College in Thousand Oaks in 1985. He then was accepted to Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, graduating in 1991 with a Master of Divinity.

It was at PLTS in Berkeley that he met and married his life partner and co-pastor, Lori. They were married in June of 1989.

They were each ordained in September of 1991. Their first call was to the 4-point Maddock Lutheran Parish in Benson County, North Dakota. The saints of Klara, Immanuel, Viking and North Viking churches taught him much about faith and farming. He could often be found in a combine or hanging out in the shops of both his parishioners and non-parishioners. While in North Dakota, they experienced pain of pregnancy loss, and later welcomed their eldest, Colter Jacob in 1995.

In 1997, they moved to Yreka to begin what was supposed to be a short tenure at Mt Zion Lutheran Church. That year they also welcomed Ryder Joseph. Although under call to Mt Zion, Pastor Brad was asked by the bishop of the Sierra Pacific Synod to help the saints at Holy Trinity in Weaverville. For many years, he would leave Lori and the boys on Saturday to spend the weekend in Trinity County. After that sojourn ended, he was soon asked by Jerry Lamb, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California, to serve as Priest-in-Charge at St Marks Church in Yreka. The saints at St Marks taught him much about “high church” liturgy which stayed with him when that tenure was complete. In 2010 the leaders of Holy Trinity requested he come back to lead them. He continued travelling to Weaverville weekly, with a few breaks due to hospitalizations. His last sermon in Weaverville was Christmas Eve 2024. His final sermon was offered at Mt Zion on December 29.

In Fall of 2017 Brad and Lori were asked to serve as Resource Parents for two beautiful children they had known since birth. He gladly stepped in to be Dad just when it was time to be an empty-nester. In March of 2019, they adopted their daughter, Paige Jean.

While in North Dakota, Brad had the opportunity to participate in a local demolition derby; the “Pastor of Disaster” lasted to the final round. Shortly after arriving in Yreka, Pastors Brad and Lori raced in a two-person novelty class one night at the speedway. From that moment he was hooked and soon was driving a Pinto in the Mini-Stock division. The announcer dubbed the driver of the bright red #3:16 car “The Padre.” The name stuck; he carried it with him through the Street Stock and Dwarf classes. His vibrant red cars and fire suit all had “See You, In Church” emblazoned on the back. Eventually, Pastor Brad became crew chief and body man for his children’s racecars. Many hours were spent in the shop teaching them not only mechanics but also life lessons of taking responsibility, winning humbly and losing with grace.

Pastor Brad’s family grew in 2019 when Katie Bliss became a Boswell then again in 2023 when Jameson George made Brad a “Bumpa.”

Pastor Brad entered hospice care on January 7 and entered the Church Triumphant early in the morning of January 16. In his last days the only regret he shared was that he would not be around to keep cheering on his wonderful kids and grandson.

Brad was preceded in death by his father and father-in-law and mother-in-law. He is survived by his mother, Lib and his dear family: Lori, Colt, Katie, Ryder, Paige and Jameson.

Services will be held Saturday, January 25, at 2 pm at Mt Zion Lutheran Church with a reception to follow. Everyone is welcome to come share stories, laughs, tears and comfort.

Memorial donations can be made to Mt Zion, Holy Trinity, Madrone Hospice or the charity that touches your heart.

Sourced: Girdner Funeral Chapel

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