Obituary for Betty Jacqueline Bailey (Thomas)
A Celebration of Life Service for Betty Jacqueline” Jackie” Bailey will be Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 1:30 pm in the Ladusau-Evans Chapel with Rev. Jim Edmison officiating. A private family burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. Service arrangements and cremation are under the direction of Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 6:00-7:00 pm at the funeral home.
Jackie was born May 20, 1926 in Enid to Curtis and Ethel (Pitman) Thomas, and passed away October 19, 2020 in The Commons Nursing Home. They lived on an acreage south of Enid located on Highway 81 which is now Roberts Ranch. The family moved to Sayre when she was seven, then moved to Pond Creek at age nine where her dad took over an implement business. Then, at fourteen, the family moved back to Enid where she entered Longfellow Jr. High in the ninth grade. She graduated from Enid High School in 1944. That same year, Jackie’s father purchased Ray Pence Furniture Store, which later became C.F. Thomas Furniture. Upon her father’s death, she learned the furniture business alongside her mother Ethel, brother Garwin, and his wife Faydean. Upon his discharge from the U. S. Navy in 1944, she and Dean Ladusau were married in 1946 in a double wedding ceremony with his twin brother Don and his fiancé Joann Clark. From their marriage one daughter, Michele Renee, was born March 10, 1950. Jackie and Don Bailey were married March 17, 1962. Jackie, her mom Ethel, and sister-in-law Faydean became well known interior decorators for Enid and surrounding towns. She and Don decided to follow their dreams and moved to Vallecito Lake and Resort area in 1974. Jackie had various jobs while there. She tried her hand at housekeeping at one of the smaller ski resorts then wanted to expand her horizon’s and became their bartender. She loved visiting with all the interesting people she met. She later went to work for Taylor Raymond Jewelers in Durango; and then worked for the Hallmark Store and Rusty’s Toy Store. All these stores were located in the Durango Mall in the downtown area. Her husband continued to grow his accounting business in Durango. On weekends they were jeeping and cutting their own firewood. Don loved his fishing and hunting, but especially golfing. They worked hard and played hard. They eventually moved to The Ranch which this location was the highlight of all they had worked for. While at The Ranch, Jackie organized a bridge group that played once a week and had a lot of fun getting together. She was a good cook before they moved to Colorado, but became a superb cook after living in the mountains; they lived their dream for 31 years before moving back to Enid in 2005. Jackie was preceded in death by her husband Don; one grandson, Jeffery Todd Myers; her brother Garwin and his wife Faydean; her parents, and numerous aunts and uncles. Jackie is survived by her daughter, Michele Nightengale and husband Leonard; grandson Mick Myers and wife Jan; great-granddaughter, Breanna Myers and great-great grandson Landon Oliver Dean Myers, as well as nieces and nephews.
We want to extend our thanks to Brookdale Senior Living; The Commons Extended Home; and the friends of the Waterford Court. We would also like to thank Hospice Circle of Love for their kind and compassionate care of Jackie; all of her friends at The Ranch, in Durango, Colorado; and finally, to Andy Ward and his medical staff. Each and every one of you have made this journey a little easier.
Condolences may be made online and the service may be viewed online at www.ladusauevans.com.
Jackie was born May 20, 1926 in Enid to Curtis and Ethel (Pitman) Thomas, and passed away October 19, 2020 in The Commons Nursing Home. They lived on an acreage south of Enid located on Highway 81 which is now Roberts Ranch. The family moved to Sayre when she was seven, then moved to Pond Creek at age nine where her dad took over an implement business. Then, at fourteen, the family moved back to Enid where she entered Longfellow Jr. High in the ninth grade. She graduated from Enid High School in 1944. That same year, Jackie’s father purchased Ray Pence Furniture Store, which later became C.F. Thomas Furniture. Upon her father’s death, she learned the furniture business alongside her mother Ethel, brother Garwin, and his wife Faydean. Upon his discharge from the U. S. Navy in 1944, she and Dean Ladusau were married in 1946 in a double wedding ceremony with his twin brother Don and his fiancé Joann Clark. From their marriage one daughter, Michele Renee, was born March 10, 1950. Jackie and Don Bailey were married March 17, 1962. Jackie, her mom Ethel, and sister-in-law Faydean became well known interior decorators for Enid and surrounding towns. She and Don decided to follow their dreams and moved to Vallecito Lake and Resort area in 1974. Jackie had various jobs while there. She tried her hand at housekeeping at one of the smaller ski resorts then wanted to expand her horizon’s and became their bartender. She loved visiting with all the interesting people she met. She later went to work for Taylor Raymond Jewelers in Durango; and then worked for the Hallmark Store and Rusty’s Toy Store. All these stores were located in the Durango Mall in the downtown area. Her husband continued to grow his accounting business in Durango. On weekends they were jeeping and cutting their own firewood. Don loved his fishing and hunting, but especially golfing. They worked hard and played hard. They eventually moved to The Ranch which this location was the highlight of all they had worked for. While at The Ranch, Jackie organized a bridge group that played once a week and had a lot of fun getting together. She was a good cook before they moved to Colorado, but became a superb cook after living in the mountains; they lived their dream for 31 years before moving back to Enid in 2005. Jackie was preceded in death by her husband Don; one grandson, Jeffery Todd Myers; her brother Garwin and his wife Faydean; her parents, and numerous aunts and uncles. Jackie is survived by her daughter, Michele Nightengale and husband Leonard; grandson Mick Myers and wife Jan; great-granddaughter, Breanna Myers and great-great grandson Landon Oliver Dean Myers, as well as nieces and nephews.
We want to extend our thanks to Brookdale Senior Living; The Commons Extended Home; and the friends of the Waterford Court. We would also like to thank Hospice Circle of Love for their kind and compassionate care of Jackie; all of her friends at The Ranch, in Durango, Colorado; and finally, to Andy Ward and his medical staff. Each and every one of you have made this journey a little easier.
Condolences may be made online and the service may be viewed online at www.ladusauevans.com.