Faydelle Hutchings Bailey, 94, of Caldwell, passed away peacefully on July 5, 2022, in Bryan, Texas.
Fay was born on January 4, 1928, in Olney, Texas, to Lawrence and Lillian Hutchings.
Her life was dramatically changed when her father was killed in a work accident when she was in the second-grade.
From that point on, Fay spent a large part of her life with her maternal grandmother, Varner Lee Alsup (Nanny), her grandfather and three uncles, who lovingly doted on her.
A public visitation was held in the chapel at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home-Caldwell from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Monday July 11, 2022.
Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, also in the chapel at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Caldwell.
Interment followed at Caldwell Masonic Cemetery. Per Faydelle’s wishes, her grandsons-in-law and great-grandson served as pallbearers.
Fay attended schools in Olney, Holiday and Blessing, Texas, graduating May 1945. Upon graduation she moved to Houston to attend Draughon’s Business College.
In February 1946, she met an ex-Marine from Arkansas, Thomas Solon Bailey, and they were married on February 28, 1947, at the Old River Terrace Church in Channelview, Texas.
They made their home in Houston, Clay, and finally Caldwell.
In 1977 they moved from town to the farm.
After Tom’s passing in 2000, Fay moved to Waldenbrooke in Bryan to be near family and then eventually to Parc at Traditions, where she lived until her passing.
Although she outlived many of her close friends, she always made new ones, and leaves behind many from Caldwell, Waldenbrooke and Parc Assisted Living in Bryan.
Fay was an active member of the Caldwell First United Methodist Church for many years and served as President of the Builders Sunday School Class.
She chaired the “Happy Hearts” Senior Group and thoroughly enjoyed planning trips around Texas, to Branson, the Grand Canyon and others.
After she moved to Bryan, she attended First United Methodist Church in Bryan.
Fay was a member of the Caldwell/Burleson County Noon Lions Club.
She served from 2004- 2008 on the Burleson County District Hospital Board.
Fay enjoyed playing bridge and belonged to several different bridge groups.
She also took great pleasure in reading, shopping and traveling. She was a gifted pianist
She was a gifted pianist who could play by ear and in later life played for the residents at Waldenbrooke, Parc and her Sunday School Class.
During her career, Fay was employed by the USDA-Agricultural Soil and Conservation Service in Caldwell, The Institute of Comparative Medicine and College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University and the Burleson County Memorial Hospital.
Fay and Tom were happily married for 53 years.
She is survived by her sons, Thomas S. Bailey Jr., (Loretta) of Spearfish, S.D., Robert L. Bailey (Roxanne) of Huffman, Texas; and daughter, Ellen Bailey Weichert (Andrew) of College Station. Additionally, she leaves behind seven beloved granddaughters, Bridget Bailey Brandt (Jason) of Liberty Hill, Texas, Lindsay Weichert Cravatt (Cody) of Bryan, Texas, Michelle Bailey Hensel (Jimmy) of Leander, Texas, Leslie Weichert Hyde (Jeremy) of Bryan, Texas, Brandi Bailey Schutt (Ryan) of Chicago, Ill., Katie Bailey and fiancé, Ryan Waddell, of Liberty Hill, Texas, and Megan Bailey and friend, Walker Eskew, of Denver, Colo.
She was blessed to have 11 great-grandchildren which to her delight, also included three sets of twins. Great-grandchildren include: Brylee and Colin Brandt, Alexis, Avery and Bailey Cravatt, Brenna, Cade and Camdyn Hensel, Ruth Fay Hyde and Easton and Everly Schutt.
Mom’s enthusiastic, fun-loving, bridge playing, shopping aficionado, and larger-than-life personality will be dearly missed.
In lieu of flowers please donate to your favorite charity.
Express condolences at PhillipsandLuckey.com.