Nora L Bailey

Nora was a farm-girl from Blackwater, Virginia who grew up with five siblings whom she loved dearly. She graduated from Rye Cove High School and then married Thomas Bailey. They moved to Tallahassee during the big Kingsport Press Strike, and Nora worked as an administrative assistant for the Florida State Fire Marshal for 30 years. While in Tallahassee, Nora spent much time being a wonderful mother and leading a cast of characters in youth and college and career Sunday School. She played basketball and softball with her church. She learned to decorate cakes and made them for many people saying, “You can’t afford them, so I’ll give them to you for free.” She traveled to Italy to see her first grandchild, then traveled to Israel with her church. She hosted her second grandchild’s birth in Tallahassee, then attended her third grandchild’s birth in Beaufort, South Carolina.

For over 50 years she researched her heritage and was proud of the American Revolution ancestors she discovered. She was a proud member of the Kingsport Long Island Chapter of the DAR and other patriotic groups. She helped found the Children of the American Revolution chapter in Kingsport and exposed her three grandchildren to many historical sites and events.

Tom and Nora retired and lived in Gray for the last 25 years of her life. She organized and led a neighborhood Bible study of diverse women whom she loved. She cared deeply for her neighbors and coordinated block party/hot dog get-togethers twice a year.

Nora is preceded in death by her husband Thomas D. Bailey and is survived by her daughter, Patricia, and husband Bill Steele (Castaic, California), grandson Aaron Steele and wife Kendra (San Jose, California), granddaughters Daniella and Bethany Steele (Castaic, California).

The family requests that in lieu of flowers that you “pay it forward” and be intentionally kind to those around you who you like and dislike, as Nora would have.

The Bailey-Steele family will receive friends on Saturday, May 7 from 4:00 – 6:00 pm at East Lawn Funeral Home (4997 Memorial Blvd., Kingsport TN 37664). The funeral service will follow at 6:00 with Dr. Greg Burton officiating (from Colonial Heights Baptist Church). The informal graveside service will be Sunday at 10:30 at East Lawn Memorial Park (4997 Memorial Blvd., Kingsport TN 37664).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.eastlawnkingsport.com for the Bailey-Steele family.