Josie Lillian Bailey

Josie Lillian Bailey passed away at home, December 18, after a long illness involving Alzheimer’s Disease and cancer. She was 92 years old.

In her early adult years Lillian worked outside the home doing clerical work. She married Billy Bob Bailey in 1950, and they had two daughters. After her children were born, she was happy to be a full time mother and homemaker. Lillian loved to cook. At Thanksgiving and Christmas relatives and friends were grateful to receive some of the many batches of peanut brittle she made. And throughout the year she baked bread according to the same recipe her mother used. She took pleasure in sharing a pinch of dough along with the recipe and providing instructions to anyone who wanted to bake it themselves. In her later years she delighted in baking bread for communion at her church, Keithville United Methodist. She was also an accomplished seamstress, who made almost all her daughters’ clothing during their childhood, and thereafter upon their requests. She passed her sewing skills along to her oldest daughter, who is a similarly accomplished seamstress; and her cooking skills to her youngest.

Lillian was preceded in death by her husband; seven sisters and one brother, and their spouses. Survivors include two daughters, Linda Ann Vance and husband, Norman Vance, of Houston, Texas; and Mary Elizabeth (Liz) Herring and husband, Carl, of Cleburne, Texas; and granddaughter, Rachel Elizabeth Vance, of Houston, Texas.

A graveside service will be held at Forest Park West Cemetery at 1 pm, December 29, 2023. All who knew and appreciated Lillian are encouraged to attend.