HAMPSTEAD — Bradford Jay “Brad” Lake was born Feb. 10, 1983, and tragically died in the early hours of Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021. He was 37 years young.
Brad is survived by his mother, Karen (Tom) Whalen of Hampstead; father, Ronald Lake of Coldwater, Michigan; sister, Jessica (Mark) Wright of Portland, Oregon; nephew and niece, Jackson and Lucille; grandmother, Patricia Carter of Richmond, Kentucky; as well as girlfriend, Kayla Mccortie, and children, Alana, Gabe and Ryan.
Brad was born in Battle Creek, Michigan. He had also resided in Arizona, Tennessee, California, and for the past several years had called Hampstead home.
Brad graduated high school from Marshall High School, Michigan, and later graduated from the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute, Phoenix, Arizona. He wasted no time putting his training to use in the motorcycle industry, later turning his attention to servicing boats through his own mobile boat repair business currently known as Offshore Marine. As his interests grew, he joined the staff of Cape Fear Catamaran in Wilmington, where he proudly played a key role in constructing some of the most beautiful catamarans on the sea.
When Brad was not working, he could be found miles out at sea fishing for wahoo and tuna, always searching for the “big one.” Fishing was his passion from an early age, so much so that almost every childhood photo shows him holding a prized catch, whether it be a frog, lizard or fish.
Anyone who ever had the pleasure of meeting Brad would say that he was loving, giving and always full of jokes. What most did not know was that every day was a struggle for him. He was a recovering opiate addict. While his family will forever be proud of the way he fought to stay sober, he succumbed to his addiction this last Tuesday. Too tired to arm wrestle his illness any longer, he gave in and gave up.
Because nobody should ever have to suffer this illness or the loss of a loved one in this fashion, his family hopes that Brad’s death will serve as yet another rallying call for mental health and substance abuse advocacy and reform. For that reason, we encourage those wishing to send condolences to do so by contributing to the Brad Lake Scholarship fund that his sister is establishing with the Coleman Institute, known for its treatment of opioid and benzodiazepines addiction. Non tax-deductible donations may be made through Venmo, handle @Jessica-Wright-52, verification code 0994. For an alternative form of donation, please contact Jessica directly.
Before judging someone, please remember — the habitual looks out good but often finds necessity only.
Share online condolences with the family at Andrews Mortuary & Crematory.
