Phyllis Ann Dugan Bailey

PHYLLIS ANN DUGAN BAILEY joined her heavenly family on Feb. 17, 2017. She was born on Aug. 28, 1928 in Cincinnati, Ohio, and was the second child of Elizabeth Ann Herget Dugan and Daniel Robert Dugan. She was a graduate of St. Mary's High School in Cincinnati and attended the University of Cincinnati. She met her future husband, Gladstone William "Bud" Bailey at the Newman Club. They married on Sept. 17, 1949. Phyllis was predeceased by her parents, her sister and brother-in-law, Jane and Albert Lehmeyer, and her brother, Fran Dugan. She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Bud Bailey; her children Ann Bailey Bain (Jim), Bob Bailey (Brenda), and Bill Bailey. She is also survived by her grandchildren Lauren Bailey, Jenna Bailey, Nicole Bailey, Christine Bailey, Tara Strain (Billy), Adam Hall (Stacey), Mary Virginia Grandle (Reid), George Bain (Jenny), and Eleanor Bain. As well as great-grandchildren Bailey Strain, Crawford Strain, Sadie Hall, Olivia Grandle, Mary Brooke Grandle, and Millie Grandle. Mom was one of the most giving and kind individuals ever born. Even as Altzheimer's began to claim her memory and mind, she continued to demonstrate care and concern for others. She was always helping others and reaching out to make their lives better. Mom was a great cook who was known for her special dishes such as chocolate chip oatmeal cookies and holiday potato casserole. She was the ultimate volunteer and we all have fond memories of mom helping with our school and church activities. She was a faithful member of the Catholic Church and considered herself blessed to have been a part of the St. Theresa and Christ the King church family. She will be missed by her church family, neighbors, and numerous friends. In December 1996, mom completed a memory book for her granddaughter, Tara. In this book she wrote the following in response to the question "What would you change about your life if you could live it over again?". Her response was: "I would not like to live my life over again. I used to think if I could I would do lots of things differently. Now I know I would not change one thing – my life has been perfect and I have been very happy about everything I have done with it. I am extremely fortunate to have such a wonderful husband and my family are perfect for me. I love all of them and wouldn't trade anything in the world for them". Each of us has been blessed to have been touched by the life of this wonderful woman. We will miss her but she will always be in our hearts and we will see her in each kindness shown to us by others. We know that she is celebrating her reunion with family and friends in heaven – and heaven, just as it was for us on earth, is a better place because mom is there. She died on Aunt Jane's birthday. We believe that God wanted to have mom in heaven for Jane's birthday celebration! She was one-in-a-million – we, her children, owe where we are in our lives to this wonderful mother. She supported us in every step of the way – she was our tutor, our mentor, our cheerleader, and the one who looked to us to use our talents to not only prosper – but to make a positive difference. We love you, mom and we will miss you more than words can express! A Mass of Celebration of her life will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 1 p.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church, 4000 N Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock. Memorials may be made to the Phyllis Ann Dugan Scholarship Fund, UALR Office of Development, 2801 South University Ave., Little Rock, Ark. 72204. Online guestbook is available at www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.