Elizabeth "Betty" (McDavid) Bailey, 93, of Coppell, TX, formerly of Paris, TX and Hillsboro, died at 1:19 a.m. on Tuesday, June 12, 2012.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 23, at Fry and Gibbs Funeral Home in Paris, TX. Memorial services will follow at noon at the funeral home with the Rev. Van Lazaroff officiating.
Interment will follow at East Post Oak Cemetery.
Mrs. Bailey was born in Hillsboro on Jan. 3, 1919, the daughter of the late John Russell and Ruth Irene (Tiley) McDavid. She married John H. Bailey in February 1957, and he preceded her in death.
She graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1936 as salutatorian. She won a scholarship to the University of Illinois, where she graduated in 1940 with a bachelor's degree in business.
Mrs. Bailey's first job was with Shell Oil Company in Centralia, where she was eventually secretary to the land manager. Later, she moved to Tulsa, OK, and worked for Adkins Oil.
In June 1943, she enlisted in the WAVES as a naval midshipman. She received training at the Midshipman School at Smith College in Northampton, MA, and graduated as an ensign.
Mrs. Bailey reported for duty at the Philadelphia Navy Yard for a few months, after which she attended the Naval Supply Corps School at Radcliffe College and Harvard University in Cambridge, MA. Upon graduation, she returned to Philadelphia Navy Yard as an officer, where she served from 1944 to 1946. After the war, she joined the Supply Corps Volunteer Reserve and attained the rank of lieutenant senior grade.
Following her naval service, she was employed as a secretary for several partners in the accounting firm, Arthur Andersen and Company in Chicago. She later transferred to Dallas, TX, to assist in opening a new branch for Arthur Andersen and Company. In Dallas, she was secretary to the managing partner.
Mrs. Bailey worked until her son, John D., was born. After several years, the family moved to Paris, TX, where she worked as a secretary at Campbell Soup Company. Several years later, she returned to Dallas, TX, and again worked for Arthur Andersen and Company. Upon her eventual return to Paris, TX in 1978, she worked at Stone Title Company and in real estate before retiring in 1984 at age 65.
She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Paris, TX, having served as an officer in several capacities for the United Methodist Women, including president, as well as a member of the church's administrative board. She was also a member of the New Era and Upper Room Class, the Ruth Circle, Littleton-Hite Bible Club and Chi Omega.
Mrs. Bailey is survived by two sons, John D. (wife Laurie) Bailey of Coppell, TX, and Larry W. (wife Karen) Bailey of The Woodlands, TX; one son-in-law, James Alexander of Georgetown, TX; seven grandchildren, Jordan, Calli, Devin and Kinsey Bailey of Coppell, TX, Ty Bailey of The Woodlands, TX, Rich Alexander of Georgetown, TX, and Annette Alexander Brewster of Lakeway, TX; one great-granddaughter, Brittany Brewster of Lakeway, TX; sister, Barb Strang of Urbana; and sisters-in-law, Anna Marie (husband Ralph) Zeigler and Nancy Bailey, both of Paris, TX.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by one brother, Dr. Fred C. McDavid, and daughter, Sherry Alexander.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the First United Methodist Church in Paris, TX, the American Heart Association or the National Hospice Association.
