Wilda Mae "Willie" Bayless, 90, of Parsons, died at 10:00 p.m., Monday, October 29, 2012, at Elmhaven West Nursing Home in Parsons.
She was born April 9, 1922, in Parsons, Kansas, to Harry G. and Velma A. (Parsons) O'Connor.
She was a 1939 graduate of Parsons High School and earned an Associate degree from Parsons Junior College in 1941.
Wilda was employed by S.H. Kress Company, Rust Hardware, and the City of Parsons Water Department. While working at the city, she met Manuel Junior Bayless. They were married November 8, 1946. She later worked for Southwestern Bell as an operator while her husband served his country in Korea in 1951.
After the kids were grown, she returned to work as the PBX switchboard operator for the Katy Railroad until the depot was demolished in 1972. In January of 1973, she went to work at Broderick Manufacturing Company as the telephone receptionist until the company closed in 1991.
She was a lifetime member of the First Christian Church and the Ladies VFW Auxiliary. She enjoyed quilting with the ladies on Wednesday mornings at the church, but always laughed about talking more than quilting.
Willie is survived by three daughters, Maribeth Long, Parsons, KS; Marsha Bayless, Parsons, KS; and Patty Bayless, Miami, OK; one son, Brad Bayless, Parsons, KS; two grandsons, Ryan Long and his wife, Kristin, of Kansas City; and Alex Bayless of Parsons, KS; one granddaughter, Jamie Bayless, Parsons, KS; and one great-grandson, Damon Long of Kansas City. Other survivors include her sister, Louise Volmer, St. Paul, KS; a sister-in-law, Mayellen Bayless, Parsons, KS; nephews, Merle Modesitt and his wife, Annie, Thayer, KS; Phil Modesitt and his wife, Donna, Louisiana; Tom Bayless and his wife, Debbie, Parsons, KS; Gary Bayless, Wichita, KS; Phil Volmer and his wife, Nancy, Louisiana, Steve Volmer and his wife, Penny, Shawnee, KS; nieces, Katherine Stitt and her husband, Stan, Thayer, KS; Cheryl Wallace, Parsons, KS; Jane Arnold and her husband, Larry, Topeka, KS; Peg O'Connor, Denver, CO; numerous great nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews, great-great-great nieces and nephews, cousins, friends and many new friends she made while living at Woodridge Estates in Parsons.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Junior, on July 17, 2011; and her daughter-in-law, Robin Bayless, on February 16, 2011.
According to her wishes, Willie has been cremated. Graveside memorial services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 3, 2012, at Pleasant Hill Cemetery near Dennis, Kansas. Her children would like to invite Willie's friends and family to meet with them from 1-3:00 p.m., Saturday, at the Parsons Senior Center to reminisce and celebrate her life.
Memorials are suggested to the First Christian Church of Parsons; the Ladies Auxiliary, Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars; or to Susan G. Komen for the Cure in honor of her daughter-in-law, Robin. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.
Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Wilda Mae "Willie" Bayless, please visit our flower store.
She was born April 9, 1922, in Parsons, Kansas, to Harry G. and Velma A. (Parsons) O'Connor.
She was a 1939 graduate of Parsons High School and earned an Associate degree from Parsons Junior College in 1941.
Wilda was employed by S.H. Kress Company, Rust Hardware, and the City of Parsons Water Department. While working at the city, she met Manuel Junior Bayless. They were married November 8, 1946. She later worked for Southwestern Bell as an operator while her husband served his country in Korea in 1951.
After the kids were grown, she returned to work as the PBX switchboard operator for the Katy Railroad until the depot was demolished in 1972. In January of 1973, she went to work at Broderick Manufacturing Company as the telephone receptionist until the company closed in 1991.
She was a lifetime member of the First Christian Church and the Ladies VFW Auxiliary. She enjoyed quilting with the ladies on Wednesday mornings at the church, but always laughed about talking more than quilting.
Willie is survived by three daughters, Maribeth Long, Parsons, KS; Marsha Bayless, Parsons, KS; and Patty Bayless, Miami, OK; one son, Brad Bayless, Parsons, KS; two grandsons, Ryan Long and his wife, Kristin, of Kansas City; and Alex Bayless of Parsons, KS; one granddaughter, Jamie Bayless, Parsons, KS; and one great-grandson, Damon Long of Kansas City. Other survivors include her sister, Louise Volmer, St. Paul, KS; a sister-in-law, Mayellen Bayless, Parsons, KS; nephews, Merle Modesitt and his wife, Annie, Thayer, KS; Phil Modesitt and his wife, Donna, Louisiana; Tom Bayless and his wife, Debbie, Parsons, KS; Gary Bayless, Wichita, KS; Phil Volmer and his wife, Nancy, Louisiana, Steve Volmer and his wife, Penny, Shawnee, KS; nieces, Katherine Stitt and her husband, Stan, Thayer, KS; Cheryl Wallace, Parsons, KS; Jane Arnold and her husband, Larry, Topeka, KS; Peg O'Connor, Denver, CO; numerous great nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews, great-great-great nieces and nephews, cousins, friends and many new friends she made while living at Woodridge Estates in Parsons.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Junior, on July 17, 2011; and her daughter-in-law, Robin Bayless, on February 16, 2011.
According to her wishes, Willie has been cremated. Graveside memorial services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 3, 2012, at Pleasant Hill Cemetery near Dennis, Kansas. Her children would like to invite Willie's friends and family to meet with them from 1-3:00 p.m., Saturday, at the Parsons Senior Center to reminisce and celebrate her life.
Memorials are suggested to the First Christian Church of Parsons; the Ladies Auxiliary, Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars; or to Susan G. Komen for the Cure in honor of her daughter-in-law, Robin. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.
Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Wilda Mae "Willie" Bayless, please visit our flower store.
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