Evelyn Louise Bailey

Evelyn Louise Conrad Bailey, 96, of Pompano Beach, Florida, peacefully passed away on Thursday, March 16, 2023, at TrustBridge Hospice, in Pompano Beach, Florida.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 23, 2023, at the First Baptist Church, Marshall, Missouri, with Dr. Mike Parris officiating. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. prior to the service. Burial immediately follows the service at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Memorials are suggested to the First Baptist Church and friends may sign the online guestbook and leave remembrance memorials in care of Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home at www.campbell-lewis.com

Evelyn was born August 20, 1926, near Brunswick (Chariton County), Missouri. Evelyn moved to the Miami Bottoms (Saline County) when she was two. Growing up, Evelyn enjoyed the life of a country girl, walking two-and-a-half miles to Bluff Grade School and graduating from Miami High School in 1944. She grew up without running water, in-door plumbing or electricity. Evelyn’s fondest childhood memories were playing basketball for Miami High School, collecting pecans on the farm, listening to the Grand Ole Opry on the radio, and going to movies at the old Mary Lou Theatre.

Evelyn met the love of her life, Howard Bailey, in March 1944 at the Rainbow Inn in Miami. They were married September 10, 1944, in Sedalia, Missouri. A few weeks later, Howard deployed with the US Army and eventually went to the WWII Pacific Theater. Evelyn moved to Fort Knox, Kentucky (Howard’s basic training) and worked on base as a stenographer. When Howard deployed overseas, Evelyn moved to Kansas City, Missouri and worked for the Veterans Administration. Following the war, Evelyn and Howard worked at the International Shoe Company in Marshall.

In September 1953, Howard and Evelyn completed construction of their work building at 450 W. Boyd Street and proudly opened Bailey’s Plumbing and Heating, establishing a long-running successful business in Marshall. They retired in 1981 and located to Pharr, Texas to square dance during the winters, and in 1990 to Coconut Creek, Florida, as ‘snowbirds’ until 2012. They loved retirement and were thankful for their friends across the country.

Evelyn was upbeat, smart, fun, kind, and generous. She had an amazing memory and could easily recall detailed family history for both sides of the family. She experienced many obstacles in life, but none that she couldn’t overcome – she was known to many as “our little tough cookie!” She was a very talented “crafter” and did many kinds of handiwork creating beautiful macramé, crochet, counted cross-stitch, crewel, silk ribbon, embroidery, needlepoint items and quilting; many of which she gave away. For the family business, she ran the shop, kept the books and worked with many regional suppliers. Evelyn and Howard traveled across the US with their kids on family vacations, and toured Spain, Hawaii, Brazil and Mexico. Evelyn and Howard were members of the First Baptist Church since the late-1950s.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband Howard Bailey (1925-2013); her parents Pete Conrad (1895-1964) and Eliza Marie Conrad Parkhurst (1904-1993); and her brothers Melvin Sylvester Conrad (1923-1941) and Vernon Arthur “Shortie” Conrad (1924-2012). She is survived by many Bailey and Conrad nieces and nephews, and her loving sons (and spouses): Larry Bailey (Rev. Kurt Krieger) of Pompano Beach, Florida; Rick Bailey (Nan Josephson) of Prairie Village, Kansas, and grandson Bryan Bailey of Miami Beach, Florida.

Evelyn was a loving wife and devoted mother. She believed in Jesus Christ, loved her church family and was thankful for the constant presence of God. Most of all, her greatest joy was being a Mom to 2 boys. We praise God for her peaceful transition. She will be sadly missed by family and friends. She has been reunited with the love of her life, Howard – “Together Again.”

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