Evon Bailey

Evon savored every moment, and every coffee time, of her 91 years. She was born September 16, 1926 to Ernest and Ida (Bruns) Meyer on the family farm near Latimer, Iowa. She liked to joke that for many years, she was first in her class. She also happened to be the only person in her class. Her independence, curiosity, sense of humor, and quick-wit were just a few of her best qualities. She majored in home economics at Iowa State College, graduating in 1947. The friendships she forged there lasted throughout her lifetime, a testament to her vibrant and loving personality. After earning her degree, she taught for a brief time but soon moved into a position as an ISU Extension Home Economist in O’Brien County. She was at a work meeting when she saw Lyman Bailey “across a crowded room” in 1952. They married the same year on June 29 in Latimer, IA.

A member of Collegiate United Methodist church in Ames, Evon particularly enjoyed the fellowship, education and music that guided and aided her spiritual development. She was a longtime member of Terril United Methodist Church in Dickinson County. Evon was a delightful person with whom to share a conversation or a piece of pie. She was never in a hurry. She approached the world with fascination and found joy in details others might overlook: the well-constructed hem of a dress, the special beauty of a fallen leaf on an autumn day, and the way ordinary words turn into songs when you sing them.

Evon is survived by her children, Stuart (Judy) Bailey of Tecumseh, Kansas; Phillip (Mary) Bailey of Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota; and Sara (Randy) Compton of Ames, Iowa. She has six grandchildren who will treasure her memory: Adam Bailey, Catherine Compton (Allan Armstrong), Peter (Vanessa) Bailey, Jennifer Compton (Maxwell Pearson), Brooke Bailey, and Laura Bailey. She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Lyman Adrian Bailey, and by her parents and siblings.