Brady Stuart

(From Simpson Funeral Home)

With a heart as big as his sense of humor, Brady Joseph Stuart, born on July 12, 1961 in Chicago, IL, passed away on April 9, 2024. He was known to many as a loving, dedicated, funny, and courageous man.

A seasoned detective, Brady dedicated his life to the pursuit of justice. His unyielding commitment to truth and integrity reflected his values, but he held equal compassion and grace for others. In discussions about God, ethics, and his beliefs, he frequently quoted his beloved mother, Judy, saying, "it's God's heaven and He'll let me in if He wants to." Brady and his kids also discussed (and usually disagreed about) politics, but he always said that they shared the same values and goals, just disagreed on methods.

The oldest of two boys, Brady was the typical older brother; nobody could ever mess with his brother. However, he’d take him to his martial arts classes to share knowledge and skills…and also beat him up without getting into any trouble for it. Throughout their lives, Brady and his brother remained connected despite their great distance from each other. Both men grew to be much like their mother - strong-willed, soft-hearted, resilient, and well-humored.

Also much like his mother, Brady enjoyed a prolific career as a police officer and detective as a result of his unrelenting dedication to his work. 

In his 20+ year career, he received tens of Grand Cordon letters, was recognized as Detective of the Year twice, several times awarded officer or detective of the month, 17 letters of commendation from the US Army, the Mayor of Carthage, the Secret Service, the Joplin Police Department, the California Parole Apprehension Team, other law enforcement agencies, and local businesses. 

His performance of duties included apprehending fugitive sex offenders, interviewing armed robbers, raising funds for victims of the Oklahoma City bombing, administering polygraph tests, getting confessions out of the vast majority of his interviewed suspects, and shutting down nationwide counterfeit operations through his efforts to support every law enforcement agency he could collaborate with to crack cases. He also served as a member of Honor Guard in memorial services for his fallen brothers and was a sniper for Joplin Police Department Special Response Team.

Brady’s dedication to his police work was matched only by his passion for his children, whom he ardently supported in their various interests and activities. Brady loved attending his children’s gymnastics, football and basketball practices, games, musical program performances, band concerts, parades, and award ceremonies. But Brady was not only present in the big moments; sorting through his filing cabinets and boxes revealed how much he treasured every piece of his children’s art - some dating back to the 1990s - as well as countless photos of Brady playing with his children. There are many people who could say many things about Brady, but one thing everybody knew was how much he loved being a father and adored his children.

Brady was obsessively studious in every interest and endeavor he had, not just his police work. He was passionate about working on Jeeps, took notes on tactical strategy and firearms management for fun, loved western films, and could make almost any story leave people howling with laughter. And knowing Brady, he's probably already got the Big Man upstairs in stitches.

Brady is survived by his children Alyssa (Micheal), Colton, Emma, and Elijah; and his brother, Frank Christopher Beni (Julie). He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward Stuart and Judith Harvey Beni, and his son, Brandon. Services will be held on Monday, April 15, 2024 at 2:00pm at Christ's Church of Oronogo, 22145 Kafir Road, Oronogo. Private graveside services with military honors will be conducted on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery in Joplin.

Services are under the direction of Simpson Funeral Home. The family encourages relatives and friends to visit www.simpsonfh.com to share photos and memories of Brady. Much like his favorite western films, Brady's life was filled with love, adventure, and more than a few one-liners. So, share your favorite "Brady moments," because the tale of this dedicated dad, courageous detective, and all-around wonderful man deserves to be told. After all, it's what Brady would have wanted—well, that and a good laugh.