MARY LOU (PHIFER) BAILEY

Mary Lou (Phifer) Bailey was born on September 3, 1932 in Leona, Texas. She passed away on February 4, 2022 in Richmond, Texas at the age of eighty-nine. She grew up in Leona and graduated from Leona High School in 1950. Mary Lou then went on to Sam Houston University earning a Bachelor’s in Business and English in 1953. On June 27th of 1953, she married James Wilton Bailey. Mary Lou went to work for Houston ISD as a secretary and Wilton was drafted into the Army where he went overseas for two years. After his return, Wilton went back to work in the farm equipment business and they had two children Rebecca and Brian. Mary Lou became a stay-at-home mom. When both children were in school Mary Lou went back to work as a substitute teacher which led to a career in education that spanned twenty-seven years.

Mary Lou was preceded in death by both of her parents; husband, Wilton Bailey, son, Brian Bailey, brothers, Wilbur and Ernest Phifer and sister, Gwen Longbotham. She is survived by her daughter, Rebecca Zapalac and husband, Mark; grandchildren, Christopher Bailey and wife, Norma, Julia Kovacs and husband, Tyler, Haleigh Winfrey, Dylan Zapalac, Brody Zapalac and Elena Zapalac; also, great-grandchildren, Alex Bailey, Isabel Bailey, Matilda Kovacs and Charlotte Kovacs. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the light of her life. She will be missed.

Services for Mary Lou were held 11 a.m., Tuesday, February 8, 2022 at Evans Chapel Methodist Church, Leona, Texas. Rev. Sharon Sabom officiated the service and interment followed in Evans Chapel Cemetery.

Madisonville Funeral Home, Madisonville, Texas was entrusted with final arrangements.