Olivene Bailey died peacefully in Gilroy on Tuesday, April 5,
2005.
Olivene Bailey died peacefully in Gilroy on Tuesday, April 5, 2005.
She was born in Merna, Neb., on Feb. 1, 1920, the third of eight children born to Murray and Jennie Bailey.
When she was 17 her mother died, leaving Olivene with much of the responsibility for her younger siblings.
She graduated from high school in Westerville, Neb. and went on to earn her degree from what was then called Kearney Teachers College.
Miss B., or “Bill” as she was known to her many friends, loved children and teaching.
She began her career in Nebraska, moving on to Wyoming, Arizona and southern California prior coming to Gilroy in 1970.
She will be remembered by many of her 7th and 8th grade students at Brownell and South Valley Junior High Schools where she taught English and Social Studies.
Miss Bailey retired in 1985 and lived at Sunset Gardens.
Miss Bailey often referred to her “beloved California” and made a tape recording in 1970 in which she described her adopted state to her father.
Although her family in Nebraska and Colorado encouraged her to retire there, she felt her home was in Gilroy.
She traveled extensively, visiting Japan, Australia, England, Scotland and made three trips to Israel.
She also loved books, flowers, butterflies and wrote many poems
Miss Bailey is survived by three sisters, Bonnie Sherman of Littleton, Colo., Nelda LeCorchick of Aurora, Colo., Kathryn Newman of Ansley, Neb.; and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service for her friends will be held at Habing Family Funeral Home at 3:30pm Friday, April 8, 2005 under the guidance of Pastor Bruce Rowlison, a special friend with whom she traveled to Israel.
She will be buried in the family plot in Arnold, Neb.
