Dexter - Marilyn J. Pflugheber Bradshaw, 56, of 23651 Ackerman Road, Dexter, passed September 20, 2012 at her home where she was under the care of her family, Hospice of Jefferson County and her care givers Penny Smith and Lisa Jobson.

Calling hours will be 4-6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 23rd at the Hart & Bruce Funeral Home, Watertown. There will be no funeral service and burial will take place at the convenience of the family.

Born on June 26, 1956 in Watertown, NY daughter of Edward G. and Joan Hansen Pflugheber, she graduated from Watertown High School in 1974. During high school she became the first girl to compete on the men’s varsity swim team in which she held a conference record in the 200 free style for many years. She and a girl from Oswego made history by becoming the first girls to participate in Section III competition, she held various records while swimming for the YMCA and AAU swim teams.

Marilyn then attended Arizona State University where she was a member of the Sun Devils National Championship swim team in 1974-1975.

She married R. Stanton Van Landingham and the couple resided in Kansas. The marriage ended in divorce. She moved back to the Watertown area and married Edward Bradshaw on January 16, 1988 at the home of her parents in Dexter.

She became an assistant coach for the Blue Sharks and Mighty Mini’s Swim Team . She then attended Jefferson Community College and received her Associates degree in Nursing. She worked at E. J. Noble Hospital and Samaritan Medical Center as a registered nurse until 1995.

Following an injury she was able to continue with water therapy and competed at the World Master’s Swimming Championships in Montreal, Canada in 1994. She and her sisters, Carol, Gina and Ellen all participated on the relay team together and took 4th place in the 200 meter medley relay and 200 meter free style relay. As a master swimmer at the Empire State Games she set two empire state records in the 100 meter freestyle and 50 meter freestyle.

She enjoyed painting, cooking, crafts, gardening and spending time with family.

Among her survivors are a daughter and son in law, Maura J. and Derek W. Eamer, Brownville; two sons and a daughter in law, Casey R. and Shanda Van Landingham, Denver, CO, Dean J. Bradshaw, Dexter, NY; two grandchildren, Brooklyn and Sydney Van Landingham; parents, Edward G. and Joan H. Pflugheber; four sisters and their husbands, Carol P. and Robert W. Puels, Dexter, Gina L. and Robert M. Wells, Clayton, Ellen P. and Michael D. Taber, DelMar, NY, Jill D. Pflugheber and her companion Daniel J. Pharoah, Russell, NY; numerous nieces and nephews.

Her husband Edward Bradshaw passed March 23, 2012

Donations may be made to Hospice of Jefferson County.

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