Obituary of Myrna Jean Bailey

Funeral Services for Myrna Jean (Cole) Bailey of Elsberry, MO, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, July 13, 2023 at the Elsberry First Christian Church (101 N. 6th St.) in Elsberry. Rev. Kris Hagemeier, church pastor, and Rev. Tom Schofield of Edwardsville, IL, will officiate with burial in the Elsberry City Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Cyril Heintzelman, Larry Carter, Max Rockwell, Donnie Kinsler, Danny Kinsler, Dean Kinsler and Aaron Kinsler; honorary pallbearers will be Joe Wayman, Joe Briscoe, Jim Mayes and Jim Powers. Mrs. Bailey, 77, passed away Sunday afternoon, July 9, 2023, at her home in Elsberry. Born December 9, 1945 in Brookfield, MO, she was the daughter of C. Merton and Mabel Fletcher Cole. Myrna was a 1963 graduate of New Cambria High School; and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education in 1966 from Northeast Missouri State University in Kirksville, MO. Myrna was united in marriage on December 18, 1966 in New Cambria, MO to Winston Lee Bailey. This union was blessed with three children: Mike, Greg and Amy. While Winston was stationed in Colorado in the Army, Myrna taught pre-school in Colorado Springs. When they returned to Missouri, she taught kindergarten at Marceline, MO. The Baileys moved to Elsberry in 1968, and Myrna taught elementary language arts and Reading Recovery for 24 years at Clarence Cannon Elementary School in Elsberry, retiring in 2003. Myrna was a member of the Elsberry First Christian Church, and the Christian Women’s Fellowship (CWF). She was a 50+ year member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, Chapter AI in Elsberry, and a long-time member of DNC Club. Myrna was a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, teacher and friend. Her sweet spirit will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She was preceded in death by her parents, Merton and Mabel Cole; and her sister, Marilyn J. Cole. Survivors include her beloved husband of 56 years, Winston Bailey of Elsberry; their children: Mike Bailey and his wife, Beth, of Hallsville, MO, Greg Bailey and his wife, Ali, of Clive, IA, and Amy Hess of St. Charles, MO; and eight adoring grandchildren: Kaitlyn, Seth, McKenzie, Anderson, Hudson, Steven, Peyton and Elsa. Myrna also leaves four nieces: Terri Smith, Sherri Rogers, Kim Bailey and Lori Fisher; one nephew, Randy Dowell; several other relatives and many friends. Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Memorials may be made to Elsberry First Christian Church or the Joseph R. Palmer Family Memorial Library in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 S. 5th Street; Elsberry, MO 63343. Online condolences may be made at www.carterricksfuneralhome.com.