Annie Lee Bailey

Annie Lee Bailey, 93 of Fort Sumner, NM died Sunday evening, November 13, 2011 at Plains Regional Medical Center following an illness. She was born March 13, 1918 in Taiban, NM the daughter of Joel S. and Annie R. (Bordeaux) Phillips. She attended school at Taiban, NM. She also attended NM Normal University (Highlands University) in Las Vegas, NM. Annie married David Calvert Bailey on February 27, 1941 in Clovis, NM. Two days later they opened Dave’s Grocery in Fort Sumner. The store was closed during World War II. While Dave served in the U.S. Navy, Annie worked as a bookkeeper for McDonald Douglas Aircraft in Los Angeles, CA. After Dave’s honorable discharge in 1945 they returned to Fort Sumner and reopened the grocery business. Annie and Dave managed the business until Dave’s death in 1996. She continued to be active in the business until 1999 when she retired. Annie was active in the community, she was a member of the Fort Sumner Women’s Club, Fort Sumner Economic Development Committee, De Baca County Chamber of Commerce, a longtime co-chair and later chairperson of the De Baca Democratic Committee, she received the NM Democratic Party Hall of Fame award, she served as chairperson of the Bi-Centennial committee, a life member of the Fort Sumner P.T.A., a member of the Rebekah Lodge, and a longtime member of the Fort Sumner Library Board. Annie enjoyed bowling; she participated in the Fort Sumner bowling leagues until age 90 where she participated for many years in local and state bowling competitions. Annie was a member of the First Baptist Church in Fort Sumner, she taught Sunday school for many years. She also taught Bible study at the Pecos Valley Care Center for several years. Annie is preceded in death by her husband David C. Bailey in 1996; her parents; a grandson Joseph Grayum “Jo Jo” Steele in 2005; a granddaughter Ramah Carlyle Beniak in 2005; a great-grandson Ty Calvert Carlyle in 1991; four sisters Lena Masters, Patty Fredricks, Pauline Phillips, Ollie Rooney, and a brother Joel Thomas Phillips. Survivors include three children, two daughters Karen and husband Joe Steele of Dunlap, NM; Susanne Eldridge of Fort Sumner, NM; a son David Bailey and wife Leslie of Fort Sumner; six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild; also surviving is a brother Frank Phillips and wife Geraldine of Amarillo, TX and a sister-in-law Marian Bailey of Santa Fe, NM. Visitation hours will be Tuesday from 11AM to 6PM at the funeral home. The family prefers memorial contributions in memory of Annie Bailey to the Fort Sumner Cemetery Association, Box 180, Fort Sumner, NM 88119 or to the charity of your choice. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Wednesday, November 16, 2011 from the First Baptist Church in Fort Sumner with Rev. Nathan Lawrence officiating. Burial will follow in the Bailey family plot, Locust Grove Cemetery. Pallbearers will include Robert Pennington, Bobby Russ, Wade Holdeman, Jerry Sparks, Lewis Hancock and Bob Hunt. Honorary bearers will include Knox Cortese, Vincent Stallard, Kurt Griego, Chris Steele, Jerry Hart, Dilia Chavez, Gary Propps, Dan Fisher, Glen Holland, Danny Sanchez, Don Sweet, and Jerry L. Webb. All arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 830 N. Fifth Street; Fort Sumner, NM. (575) 355-2311. To place an online tribute or sign the guest book, please visit www.chavezfuneralhome.com .