Melba Ruth Bailey

Melba Ruth (Davenport) Bailey was born April 27, 1929 to Lloyd and Lucille Davenport in Benton, Arkansas. She had one older brother, Edmond, a younger sister, Mary (Dinky), and two younger brothers, Pete and Richard (Bo). She grew up in the small town of Benton, Arkansas and attended Benton High School. Melba grew up loving to roller skate, go to the movies with her friends, sew, hang out with her big brother and spent hours upon hours with her baby brother, Bo, treating him as if he were her own child.

At the age of 14, she got her driver’s license and began driving moving trucks for her father in the family business, Davenport Moving and Storage. Through her older brother, Edmond, she met and began dating her husband of almost 60 years, Rufus Eugene (Gene) Bailey. After marrying, Gene enlisted in the United States Navy, leaving Melba in Benton to have their first child, Michael Lloyd. When Mike was old enough to travel, Melba boarded the train with the 18 month old, traveling from Benton, Arkansas to San Diego, California where the family was reunited.

After Gene’s discharge from the Navy, they returned to Benton where they welcomed their precious daughter, Berneita Gaye. A few years later when work was scarce, Gene loaded up the family and headed to Kansas City, where there was a demand for electricians. Although they had felt their family was complete, after a few years in Kansas City, they were surprised with the addition of a second daughter, Cynthia Lucille.

Melba was devoted to her family, and loved them move than life itself. With the children in school, she broadened her sewing career, working alongside her beloved sister-in-law, Inez Bailey and made the display clothing and items for Melba’s Fabrics in Wyandotte Plaza. She very quickly became a highly sought after seamstress with a specialty field of wedding trousseaus. Her retirement was forced after back surgery prevented her from being able to sit in a straight chair for any length of time.

Melba was blessed with her grandchildren: Robert Bailey (Gail), Rodney Bailey Gentry, Charles Bailey (Letitia), Thomas Bailey (Jessica), Katherine Owens Knetter (Brandon), Jessica Owens (Rob), Liberty Owens Huston (Ryan), Kristi Owens, Jeremy Ash (Stephanie), and Dustin Ash.

And her great-grandchildren: Harley Bailey, Shyann Bailey, Ava Bailey, Issac Bailey, Noah Bailey, Alexis Bailey, Jaxon Bailey, Drew Echeverria, Coraline Owens, Tyler Ash, Damion Ash, Aliyah Ash, Morgan Ash, as well as the claimed great-grandchildren that she would fight if you said they weren’t her blood: Cameron Collins, Caleb Collins, Jake Knetter, Zack Knetter, Dalton Ash and Izik Estes.

In addition she leaves behind her two brothers, a sister, multitude of nieces and nephews, her best friends Don and Cathy Bell, and her god-son Rob Bell.

She was loved.

Services will be held at Chapel Hill-Butler Memorial Gardens, 701 North 94th St., Kansas City, KS 66112 on Monday, September 18, 2017 with visitation from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Memorial service at 2:00 p.m. followed by food and fellowship at the F.O.P. Hall at 7844 Leavenworth Rd., Kansas City, KS. Everyone is invited.