Ethel Bailey

1907 - 2011

ETHEL LEONA

CLARK BAILEY

ASHEVILLE - Mrs. Ethel Leona Clark Bailey, 103, passed away April 21, 2011, in Asheville, N.C.

Born June 26, 1907, in Reynolds, Nebraska, she was daughter of the late Clarence Edgar and Elsie Perrigo Clark. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband, Wayne Henry Bailey; sister, Edith Vern Hughes; and two brothers, Lewis William Clark and Ralf Dewayne Clark.

Her husband, Wayne Henry Bailey, was Superintendent of Robert's Construction Co. which built roads across Nebraska.

About 60 moves later, Ethel had a vision to buy the Lutheran Memorial church in Syracuse, Neb., in 1953 and converted it into the Hotel Wayne. In 1979, it was remolded into the Town House Apartments.

She was a member of the Syracuse United Methodist Church for 47 years and a charter member of the Beta Sigma Phi.

Her survivors include two daughters, Audrey Rogers (Mrs. Turner Rogers) of Asheville, N.C. and Nancy Dowding and her husband, Vincent, of Grand Island, Neb.; son, Wayne Ellis Bailey and his wife, Doris, of Broken Arrow, Okla. sister, Agnes Gorton of Grants Pass, Ore.; eight grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held 4 PM, Saturday, April 23 in the chapel of Morris Funeral Home, 304 Merrimon Avenue with her grandson, the Reverend Scott Rogers officiating.

Mrs. Bailey often quipped to her grandson that she gave him the best years of her life in Asheville as she was an active volunteer in the ABCCM Crisis Ministry until just after her 103rd birthday.

In lieu of flowers, Mrs. Bailey requested that donations be made to ABCCM, 30 Cumberland Ave. Asheville NC 28801.

Morris Funeral Home, 304 Merrimon Avenue is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent through the website www.morrisfamilyfuneralhome.com