Esther Mae Brown Bailey

ESTHER MAE (BROWN) BAILEY, 92

Church of God Missionary

Esther Mae (Brown) Bailey was born August 21, 1915 in Patoka, Indiana and passed away on February 9, 2008 at the Lake Wales Medical Center. She was 92.

She married Earl L. Bailey July 23, 1939 in Indianapolis, Indiana and was an active partner with her husband for 24 years as ministers in the home missions field to the Sioux Indians in Alliance and Scottsbluff, Nebraska and at Wounded Knee, South Dakota. She was a devoted wife, a loving mother and one who not only proclaimed the Good News of Christ’s love but demonstrated it daily in service to others. Such selfless service was recognized numerous times with various awards…i.e. Community Service, Mother of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, and countless other merits which were not always engraved on a plaque but on the hearts of many.

On her 80th birthday around 400 people came to celebrate the life of one who had no enemies, never had a negative word for anyone.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Ollie and William Brown; three brothers, Clarence, Harold, and Irvin; two sisters, Evelyn and Katherine; husband, Rev. Earl L. Bailey; and one grandson, Kevin L. Bailey and is survived by four children Herbert L. Bailey of Vero Beach, Florida; Earlene K. Babcock Head of Lake Wales, Florida; Keith E. [“Kai”] Bailey of Orlando, Florida; and Margo A. Fatzinger of Clewiston, Florida; seven grandchildren; and thirteen great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held at 3:30 p.m., Sunday, February 17, 2008 at the South Lake Wales Church of God with Rev. Bob Beckler officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Esther Bailey Memorial Fund at South Lake Wales Church of God, 210 President’s Drive, Lake Wales, Florida 33859.

Marion Nelson Funeral Home, Lake Wales.