An accomplished seamstress, she loved creating things Thelma Geraldine (Gerry) Hailey, daughter of Neal S. and Bertha (Brown) Davis, was born on Jan. 29, 1928, in Fredonia, Kan., and passed to Heaven on Feb. 26, 2009, in Ava, Missouri. Although her parents were Douglas County natives, Gerry spent much of her childhood in Nebraska where her parents farmed until 1942 when they purchased the Ed Miller place out on Cowskin northwest of Ava.
Attending Crossroads Church with her family, she met another local boy, Edwin Hailey. On Aug. 21, 1945 they were married, at the Ava Methodist Church. She accompanied him back to Camp Hood, Texas where Edwin, a lieutenant in the Army, was stationed. To the union two sons were born.
Gerry was a 1945 graduate of Ava High School and immediately became secretary to Mr. C.W. Parker at the high school. After the war, Gerry helped her husband in farming until he took a job at Producers Creamery in Cabool from 1948 until 1953. They continued their farming until 1959 when they entered the implement business in Ava, and Gerry was the company bookkeeper thereafter.
Gerry was an accomplished seamstress and loved creating beautiful things for herself and others. She took great pride in decorating for the home. She made any house that she and Edwin lived in, not just a house, but truly “The Hailey’s Home.”
Gerry was preceded in death by her parents; a son, David L. Hailey; two brothers, Lloyd and Jesse; and two sisters, Wilma Flynn and Barbara Mitchell.
She is survived by her husband, Edwin, of the home; a son, Roger E. Hailey and wife Pam, of Highlandville, MO; and David’s widow, Cindy Bricker, of Ava, Mo.; and five granddaughters, April Algaier, Lincoln Neb., Tiffany Beard, Fort Myers Fla., Alicia Hailey, St. Louis, Abby and Anna Hailey, both of Ava; two step-grandchildren, Lori Moore, Springfield, and Leigh Frampton, Weston, Va.; one great-grandson, Conner Beard; five step-great-grandsons; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services for Geraldine were Monday, March 2, at 10 a.m. at the Ava United Methodist Church with the Rev. Marty Blakey officiating. Interment followed in the Ava Cemetery.
Visitation was Monday, 9 a.m. to service time at the church.
Services were conducted by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava. Memorials may be made to Ava Food Harvest, Ava United Methodist Church, Ava Victory Academy, or the mission of your choice. Online condolences may be made to www.clinkingbeardfuneral home.com.
