Geraldine Hailey

Ava, MO

Geraldine Hailey
Ava, MO

Thelma Geraldine (Gerry) Hailey, daughter of Neal S. and Bertha (Brown) Davis was born on January 29, 1928, in Fredonia, Kansas, and passed to Heaven on February 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 August 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 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 NE; Tiffany Beard, Fort Myers FL; Alicia Hailey, St. Louis, MO; Abby and Anna Hailey, both of Ava; and two step-grandchildren, Lori Moore, Springfield, and Leigh Frampton, Weston, VA; and one great-grandson, Conner Beard; and five step great-grandsons, along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Services for Geraldine will be Monday, Monday, March 2, 2009, 10:00 a.m. at the Ava United Methodist Church with Rev. Marty Blakey officiating. Interment will follow in the Ava Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday 9:00 a.m. to service time at the church.
Condolences may be made to Ava Food Harvest, Ava United Methodist Church, Ava Victory Academy, or Mission of your choice.