Frances Eva O’Connor Bailey, 88, a devoted wife and mother, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 24, 2010, at Winston County Nursing Home. Visitation will be at Porter Funeral Home in Louisville, Mississippi on Monday from 5 to 8 p.m. and services at First United Methodist Church in Louisville on Tuesday, July 27, 2010, beginning at 11:00 a.m. A graveside service will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery in Grenada on Tuesday at 3:00.
Fran was born on August 14, 1921, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Frank Evans O’Connor and Ida Larrivee O’Connor. After her father was discharged from the Marine Corps, the family moved to Sioux City, Iowa, where Fran was raised. Upon graduation from high school in Sioux City, Fran moved to Chicago to attend college. While there, she met Cliff Bailey, who was in Chicago attending dental school. The couple married in 1944. After Cliff graduated from dental school and completed his military service, they moved to Cliff’s hometown of Grenada, Mississippi.
Fran was a devoted Christian and an active member in the Methodist Churches in Grenada, Coffeeville, and Louisville, serving as Sunday School Teacher and Bible Study Group Leader. She was also a member of the North Mississippi and Koinonia Emmaus Communities, having served as a Lay Director in both. Fran was a charter member of the Grenada Junior Auxiliary and also served as a national officer with the Junior Auxiliary. She was also an avid golfer, an excellent bridge player and a constant learner. One of her favorite pastimes was playing bridge on the internet with people around the world. But foremost, Fran was a loving wife, mother of three, grandmother of nine, great grandmother of two and friend of many. There will certainly be a void in the lives of her family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband and parents. She is survived by three children, Gloria Mason (Roger) of Louisville, Ford Bailey (Martha Lynn) of Madison, and Hall Bailey (Carole) of Jackson. She is also survived by a niece, Joy Early Gifford (Frank) of Oakland, Maine. She has nine grandchildren, Kelly Mason Joyner (Walley) of Madison, Chris Mason of Grenada, Ryan Mason (Laura Catherine) of Birmingham, Alabama; Kevin Bailey (Valerie) of Madison, Meredith Bailey of Atlanta, Mallory Bailey of Madison, Brittany Bailey of Jackson, Blair Bailey of Jackson, and Connor Bailey of Jackson; two great grandchildren, Mason Joyner and Jackson Joyner of Madison.
The family requests that memorials be made to First United Methodist Church in Louisville, P.O. Box 523, Louisville, MS 39339.
