Obituaries

Velma Madden Bailey

Velma Madden Bailey, 100, of Hot Springs, Arkansas, formerly of Booneville, Arkansas, passed away May 29, 2012. She was born January 27, 1912, in Yell County. She was preceded in death by her husband, Darrell Bailey, her parents Thad Madden, Aldine and Fanny Farrow, a twin sister Nelma Payne, sister Aline Cale, two brothers, Leon Madden and Barnett Madden and grand-daughter Gina Bailey. "Vel" was a member and choir member of the First Baptist Church, Booneville, for many years. She worked as a sales clerk, Medical Clinic Secretary and Revenue clerk. During World War II, she loaded fuel at the Naval Station in Berkley, California. During their retirement, Vel and Darrell enjoyed camping and travelling with their friends. After her husband's death in 1993, Vel moved to Hot Springs to be close to her son, Ronald and daughter-in-law, Betty Jo. Vel grew up on the farm at Lower Spring Creek in Yell County and attended Danville High School. After her marriage to Darrell Bailey, the couple moved to Dardanelle, where her son Ronald was born. After a brief stint in the oil and gas distributing business during the depression, the couple joined a traveling sales group. The group traveled Arkansas selling magazine subscriptions in a different town each week. They left the travelling group after one year and moved to Booneville in 1940. Vel is survived by her son Ronald and Betty Jo, Grandchildren Rhonda Keith and Steve of Little Rock; Ron Bailey, Jr. and Vickie of Hot Springs and Jil Amaden and Brent of Carlisle; eight great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Visitation will be at the Roberts Funeral Home in Booneville at 6-8 p.m., Thursday. Services will be at First Baptist Church in Booneville at 2 p.m., Friday, June 1, 2012 with burial will be Oakhill Cemetery, under the Roberts Funeral Home.

Published May 30, 2012

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