Mary Ellen Bailey

Born in Delmont, South Dakota, Mary Bailey was the eldest daughter of Arthur and Hanna Stahlecker (née Wasner). She had a loving upbringing surrounded by extended family and raised in the Lutheran faith. Her younger years were spent in Delmont with her parents and siblings, Norma Rew and Gerald (“Jerry”). The family moved to Mitchell, South Dakota from where she graduated High School. Mary then completed two of the required three years of nurse training. Along the way, she met and married Robert Bailey and decided nursing was not her calling, instead becoming a mother of four children and homemaker for many years. Her daughters Tira and Karla were born in Mitchell. Around 1960 her young family moved to Seattle, Washington area where her youngest daughter Lisa, and only son Robert (“Rob”), were born. Her husband’s work required the family to move to North Dakota, Missouri and Wyoming, over a course of several years. In 1969 the family moved to Simi Valley, California. She was a good cook and always had a nicely decorated home. Providing for her four children, she also raised her grandson William Gilmore (‘Bill”). She and her husband eventually went their separate ways. She ventured out into the work world as so many women were starting to do at that time and worked on an assembly line for a computer company in Chatsworth, California. In 1988 she relocated to Sunnyvale, California to work for many years as an engineering assistant for a satellite communications and navigation company. She built lasting friendships with her coworkers and neighbors. Upon retirement in 1998, she had time to further explore her beloved hobbies: gardening, quilting, and painting with various mediums. She was very talented. She loved family time; sharing holidays and all of life’s special celebrations with her grandchildren as they grew. Mary was always willing to pitch in, dress up in costume, share her creative spirit, and help make moments memorable. In 2016, her son Rob, his wife Carol, and Carol’s sister, Sharon, graciously invited her to live with them in Laveen, Arizona where they provided her a safe, loving, fun filled home and all the care she needed. They always included her in their festivities or let her retreat to her room to relax; allowing her to live her final years as she desired. Their dear friends became hers. Mary painted often during this time and always wished the full family could spend more time together. Her family is proud of her for lifting herself out of a troubled marriage and for becoming an independent woman. She was frugal, but very giving. She had rhythm and loved to dance. One of her favorite songs was Proud Mary by Creedence Clearwater Revival. She conquered difficult recipes and created her own pineapple cheesecake, which has been a family staple for years. She is dearly missed. May she rest in peace. Mary was predeceased by her parents Arthur and Hanna Stahlecker, her sister Norma Rew, her daughter Karla Byrd, grandchildren Richard Gilmore, William Gilmore, and Rachel Warren. Mary is survived by her brother Jerry Stahlecker (Jo) and family, her sister Norma Rew’s family, her daughter Tira Bailey, her daughter Lisa Warren (Kenn), her son Rob Bailey (Carol), Carol’s sister Sharon Jones, her grandchildren James Margolis (Nicole), R.C. Byrd (Donnie), Rebecca Warren (Matt), Derek Warren (Asia), Lamae Smith (David) and family, great-granddaughter Jessie Margolis. Per her wishes, she will be cremated. A small family gathering in her honor will take place in Idaho at a later date.