Violet I. Bailey, 86, of Greeneville, passed away November 21 at Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport. She was a lifelong resident of Greene County.
She was a devoted wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend. She was a caring and loving woman who always opened her home to others, especially to those in the ministry.
She was a Christian woman of strong faith, having been saved at an early age. She was a charter member of United Baptist Church in Greeneville, and attended Fellowship Baptist Church as long as her health permitted. She was unashamed to share her faith. She never hesitated to share the love of Jesus with others, even in her last days, leaving a lasting impression on her caregivers.
The love for her family was unending, and she was always the happiest when surrounded by her family or talking about her family, for whom she loved to sew and cook.
She was a member of the Mosheim Ruritan Club, Widows on a Journey, the Over 55 program, and the Lift program.
Survivors include sons and daughters-in-law: Stan and Jeannie Bailey, David and Sheila Bailey; daughters and sons-in-law: Pamela and Kenneth Thacker, Elisa and James Tomlinson, Maria and Richard Swecker; grandchildren: Nick Bailey, Erica Buchanan, Holly McCoy, Tyler Bailey, Dustin Bailey, Valerie Swecker, and Victoria Hensley; nine great-grandchildren; sisters: Joan Schroer and Brenda Reed; brother: Tommy Shipley; sister-in-law: Winifred Shipley; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
She was married to the one and only love of her life, Kenneth, for 45 years, who preceded her in death.
She was also preceded in death by parents, Charlie and Lura Shipley; brother, Charles Shipley; and great-granddaughter, Caylen Ruth Bailey.
Visitation will be Saturday, November 24 from 3:00 to 8:00 PM at Kiser-Rose Hill Funeral Home. The funeral service will be Sunday, November 25 at 2:00 PM in the funeral home chapel, with a burial service to follow at GreeneLawn Memory Gardens.
Officiating ministers will be Rev. Nick Bailey, Rev. Bobby Leonard, Rev. Danny Ellis, and Rev. William Boyd Bingham III.
Pallbearers will be Tyler Bailey, Dustin Bailey, John Buchanan, James Tomlinson, Nolan Hensley, Kenneth Thacker, and Richard Swecker.
Honorary pallbearers will be Chris McCoy, Bill Carter, Harold Christian, Bill Henard, Sam Walker, William Willett, Ray Holbert, Ron Conley, and members of the Mosheim Ruritan Club.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in memory of Violet Bailey be made to:
Gateway Christian School
1 Gateway Dr.
Middlesboro, KY 40965
Proverbs 31:28 - "Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her."
