Elizabeth (Betty) McDavid Bailey of Coppell, Texas (formerly of Paris), passed away on June 12, 2012 at 1:19 A.M.                    

Betty Bailey was born January 3, 1919 in Hillsboro, Illinois, the daughter of Ruth Irene Tiley and John Russell McDavid. Her father died in December, 1918, a month before her birth. She had one brother, Fred C. McDavid and one sister, Mrs. Barbara Strang.

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 B.S. degree in Business. Her first job was with Shell Oil Company in Centralia, Illinois. She was eventually secretary to the Land Manager. Later she moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma where she 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, Massachusetts and graduated as an Ensign. She 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 the 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 Sr. Grade.

Following her naval service, Betty was employed as a secretary for several partners in the accounting firm, Arthur Andersen & Co. in Chicago, Illinois. She later transferred to Dallas, Texas to assist in opening a new branch for Arthur Andersen & Co. In Dallas, she was secretary to the managing partner.

In February, 1957 she married John H. Bailey. She worked until their son John D. was born. After several years the family moved to Paris, Texas where Betty worked as a secretary at Campbell Soup Company. Several years later, Betty returned to Dallas and again worked for Arthur Andersen & Co.  Upon her eventual return to Paris, Texas in 1978 she worked at Stone Title Company and in real estate until she retired in 1984 at age 65.

Betty was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Paris, 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 a member of the New Era/Upper Room Class, the Ruth Circle, Littleton-Hite Bible Club and Chi Omega.

Betty is survived by, two sons, John D. Bailey and wife Laurie of Coppell, Texas, Larry W. Bailey and wife Karen of The Woodlands, Texas and one son-in-law James Alexander of Georgetown, Texas.  Mrs. Bailey is also survived by seven grandchildren, Jordan, Calli, Devin and Kinsey Bailey of Coppell, Texas; Ty Bailey of The Woodlands, Texas; Rick Alexander of Georgetown, Texas; Annette Alexander Brewster of Lakeway, Texas; and one great-grand daughter, Brittany Brewster of Lakeway, Texas.  She is survived by a sister, Mrs. Barb Strang of Urbana, Illinois, sister-in-law Mrs. Anna Marie Zeigler and husband Ralph Zeigler of Paris, Texas, and sister-in law, Nancy Bailey of Paris, Texas.  She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, John H Bailey, brother, Dr. Fred C. McDavid and a daughter, Sherry Alexander.

Memorial Services will be held at 12:00 P.M. Noon, Saturday, June 23, 2012 at Fry & Gibbs Funeral Home in Paris, Texas with Reverend Van Lazaroff officiating.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the Memorial Services.  The interment will be at East Post Oak Cemetery following the Memorial Services. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First United Methodist Church, Paris, Texas, The American Heart Association or The National Hospice Association.