Shirley May Bailey

Our loving, energetic, humorous little mother, Shirley Bailey, age 99, of Springville passed away peacefully on November 12, 2025. She was born May 11,1926, to Alexander Joseph McCulloch and Ethel Violet Mayo in Rexburg Idaho. Shirley was the last child of ten children. When she was 12 years old, her father had passed away and her mother was ill with a heart condition. Shirley was sent to California to live with her older sister, Kate. She was an excellent student and was double promoted when she started school in California and graduated from high school a year early.

While in California, she met the love of her life, Robert (Tobe) Bailey, who was in the Navy training to go to sea during the Second World War. They were married on January 11, 1944. Later they were sealed in the Manti Temple. When Tobe was sent to sea, Shirley went to Utah with his family. Tobe’s sister, Bonnie and his cousin Dallyne Crowton became like sisters to her, and were lifelong friends.

Shirley was a strong woman. She gave birth to their first child, Susan, while Tobe was overseas on the hospital ship, the U.S.S. Comfort. It was bombed by enemy fire, and Shirley didn’t know if Tobe was among the survivors until someone saw a newsreel at the Rivoli Theater that showed him helping carry out the wounded on stretchers.

Tobe and Shirley were the parents of six children. Susan (Dee) Roach, Jim (Joyce) Bailey, Judy (Boyd) Hansen, Clint (Nehleh) Bailey, Evelyn Bailey, and Brent Bailey, 15 grandchildren, 47 great-grandchildren, and 9 great-great-children. She was preceded in death by her husband, Tobe, two daughters, Susan and Evelyn, her daughter-in-law, Nehleh, and all of her immediate family.

Shirley was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She held many callings and for years she worked on the funeral lunches with sisters that she dearly loved.

Shirley was a hard worker all of her life. She worked part time jobs while her children were small, then went to work full time at the BYU post office until she reached retirement. After retiring she enjoyed doing product demos at grocery stores. She was very social and loved to visit with people while doing her demos.

Among her happiest times were going to St. George for part of the winter. Tobe’s sister Bonnie and her husband, Karl Black, would go with them, and they would take rides all around the area and go on trips together. Shirley loved to travel. Her

daughter, Judy, daughter-in-law, Joyce, and sometimes her granddaughter, Jamie, would take her on a trip each year for her birthday. Some of the trips were to the River Walk in San Antonio; Yellowstone; Las Vegas, where she got to go backstage to meet Derek Hough; and her favorite, San Diego.

Shirley was an avid reader. When her children were little, she would pull them in a wagon to the public library. All of her children developed a love for reading. Up until a few days before she passed, she was still reading her Kindle on the largest font and using a magnifying glass.

Shirley had many lifelong friends. She had a group of ladies she called the “club” that met often to eat, visit, share stories, and go to a cabin for weekends. She walked three miles around town with her dear friend, Colleen, for years. She had amazing neighbors and ward members.

There are so many people we need to thank for the help they have been to Shirley in recent years that we can’t begin to list them all, but we want to share a few. Her son, Brent, made it possible for her to stay in her home. He spent countless hours caring for her, blending her food, and keeping up the house and yard. Her wonderful neighbors, Rhett and Ann Willmore were always there for her and provided endless meals. She considered her hospice caregivers, Jodie and Karen, her dear friends, and looked forward to having them visit. She dearly loved these people, and we as a family thank you with all of our hearts for the kindness you have shown our mother.

Shirley was loved by her family. Her humor, caring, and sharp mind kept track of everything going on in the family, and all of us will miss her. She was the glue that kept her family together.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, November 26, 2025, at 11:00 am. A viewing will be held before the funeral from 10:00 until 10:45 am. The funeral will be at the Spring Creek South Stake Center, 350 North 400 East, Springville, Utah. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery.

Condolences may be expressed to the family on this page.