NORWAY — Raphael Neil Bradley, 72, died on Jan. 27, 2012 after a long bout with cancer.

Neil was born Jan. 16, 1940, in “The County” of northern Maine. He was the son of the late Evelyn Warner Bradley Nevers and Lawrence Bradley of Presque Isle. Upon completing school in Presque Isle, he went right to work driving tractor-trailer trucks. This would become his lifelong passion. He was known to many by his CB handle “the white elephant.”

Neil drove an old B series Mack for Delmont Wood Construction in the early 1970s.

He also had a great relationship with Paul Levesque, of Paul Levesque and Sons of Ashland, driving tractor trailer for them for several years. He drove for Gary Bonville until 1983, when he was lured out of “The County” by Bob and Richard Bahre from Oxford. He spent the last 29 years doing construction work and driving construction equipment for Speedway Inc. While working with the speedway crew, he was involved in the construction of multiple housing projects and in building New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, N.H.

Neil had an easy going way about him and he was quickly a friend to all that he met. He was a hard worker and an important part of the speedway crew. His fun loving nature will be missed by all his family and friends.

Neil leaves behind six children, Karla Beaver, Tracy Bradley and Holly Bradley, all of Presque Isle, Raphael N. Bradley Jr. of Machiasport, Terry L. Craig and Douglas L. Bradley of Waterford; his brother, Stanley Bradley of Florida; his sister, Beryl Savard of Saco; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and his first wife, Gloria Grant.

He was predeceased by his parents; his brother, Francis Bradley; a son, Michael Bradley; and his former wives, Anne Hayden and Anita Jones Bradley.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.oxfordhillsfuneralservices.com

Visitation was held at Albert & Burpee Funeral Home last Friday. Services were last Saturday in the lower church of the Basilica Saints Peter and Paul. Interment was at St. Peter’s Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice, the Hospice House Fund, Development Department, 15 Strawberry Avenue, Lewiston, ME 04240.