Frances Eloise Bailey

January 24, 2023

On January 18, 2023, Jesus embraced Frances Eloise Bailey and welcomed her into heaven. A great reunion began soon thereafter with her husband, Ralston Bailey, who had been helping find their new mansion in heaven. The reunion enlarged when Mercer Clustus and Essie Lou Wasden Vaughn, her mamma and daddy, her sisters Edwina Vaughn Waren and Ouida Vaughn, her brother, Ray Vaughn, and a nephew, Alan Waren, joined in the festivities of that glorious party in heaven. Born near her home in Walnut Hill, Florida, Jabbo, as many called her, graduated from Ernest Ward High School and soon fell in love and married her Navy Ensign flight student, a marriage that lasted 71 years before her love’s death in 2018.

Survived by son and daughter-in-law, Bob and Judy Bailey; grandchildren: Heather Bailey, Jennifer (Damien) French, Shannon (Bryan) Gott, Stephanie (Scott) Richards; great-grandchildren Bailey (Abhinav) Desai, Jamey Vaughn, Noah, Amelia and Simon French, Mason and Lila Nicholson, and Bankston Gott; neices and nephews: Greg (Cyndi) Vaughn, Susan Scarborough, Del (Jean) Butler, Ric (Alice) Butler, and Becky Stapletonp and a sister, Ruby Butler.
Mother (Frances, Granny) enjoyed the Navy officer’s wife social life and it carried on in later life as she welcomed so many people into whatever organization or neighborhood of which she was a part. Avid game (card and domino) player, national level square dancer, bowler, and RVer, she and Raleigh traveled to many locations before and after retirement, often with other RVer friends who shared their hobbies.

During her carrier days, after Raleigh retired from the Navy, mother was a management level accountant, at the then young, Holiday Inn Corporation in Memphis, and Budget Analyst for the Generals and Admirals associated with the building of the B-1 Bomber. In her ‘spare time’ she was also a Cub Scout den mother and a bowling instructor at a local bowling alley in between bridge clubs and other activities.

She loved life! She loved family! She loved moving and that was a good thing because we lived in or drove through all 48 contiguous states in the US. If it wasn’t from house to house as we transferred from city to city as a Navy family, it was moving furniture after her son went out on weekends during high school and college so he could not possibly reenter the house silently late at night as he came home from wherever he had been. I think she laughed each time I tripped over something and believe she is laughing about that still. Frances and Bob loved kidding with each other!

Family would like to thank staff of both Wesley Haven Villas and The Haven of Our Lady of Peace for incredible care and compassion.

Service will be held at Faith Chapel Funeral Home, 100 Beverly Parkway, Pensacola, Florida 32505 on Friday, January 27th. Visitation 10am, Service 11 am, and burial at Barrancas National Cemetery at 1 pm. If you desire to make memorial gifts, please make them to Lillian United Methodist Church, 12770 Perdido Street, Lillian, Al 36549 or to your favorite charity.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Obituaries