Obituary of Phyllis Bailey

PENN YAN/WATERLOO - Phyllis M. Bailey, 91, of Penn Yan, formerly of Waterloo, went home to be in the presence of her Heavenly Father and Creator Friday (Aug. 28, 2015). Friends may call from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday (September 3) at Coe-Genung Funeral Home in Waterloo, immediately followed by a funeral service at 7:00 p.m. Pastor Ron Woudenberg, will officiate. Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Friday (September 4) in Maple Grove Cemetery in Waterloo. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Emmanuel Baptist Church, 332 Main St., Penn Yan, 14527. Phyllis was born May 9, 1924 in Seneca Falls, the daughter of George L. and Sarah Marie Gardener Trotter. She was a proud 1942 graduate of Mynderse Academy. Phyllis married Edward Bailey on July 24, 1943 and they were married for 65 years. She was a former employee of Seneca Falls Machine Company and later, the Seneca Army Depot. Phyllis loved serving the Lord in whatever church God placed her, including Waterloo Baptist Church, (Waterloo, N.Y.), Romeo Baptist Church (Dunnellon, Fla.), and Emmanuel Baptist Church (Penn Yan, N.Y.). She particularly enjoyed playing the organ for services for nearly 60 years. She also loved her family and treasured spending time with them. The Lord made Phyllis a planner and an organizer and she used this gift in her church, in her community, and for her family and friends. Whether it was organizing women's conferences for her church, or arranging church services for the residents of St Marks, to planning and catering banquets and receptions for friends, Phyllis was a continual blessing to all those around her. She also served in a variety of positions in her community during the years she lived in Florida including as president of the Garden Club, Civic Club, the Women's Community Club, and chairperson of the Library Board for Rainbow Lakes Estates. She is survived by her daughter, Barbara Bailey of Penn Yan; sons, Robert (Jan) Bailey of Geneva and William (Sona) Bailey of Savannah, Ga.; grandchildren, Sarah Bailey, Jason (Joelle) Bailey, Debra (Gordon) Denney, and Amy (Justin) Atwood; great-grandchildren, Carter and Madison Bailey, Charlotte, Caleb, and Juliette Denney, and Clara Jane Atwood, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Richard and Bonnie Bailey; and five nieces and two nephews as well as several cousins. Phyllis was predeceased by her husband, Edward G. Bailey (2008); and sister, Pearl A. Stratton. Condolences for the family may be sent to www.coegenungfuneralhome.com.