Zona Bailey

Zona Jane Bailey was a registered nurse who used her skills to help others. She was also a master gardener, winning awards for her glorious flower gardens. She was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother, who supported her family in all their endeavors, most recently her husband, when he became Mayor of Norton Shores. She was an active woman who even when she aged, was up for shopping or a walk down to the lake. Born on August 12, 1921 in Ravenna, Michigan to George and Clara (Dunning) Price, Zona was the oldest of four girls. George and Clara worked hard to raise Zona along with her siblings, Susan, Dona, and Clara Jo. The early part of Zonas childhood was known as the Roaring Twenties due to the booming economy and heady times. Women were seeing opportunities open up for them, not only economically, but socially as well. George supported the family by working on the family farm while Clara cared for the girls and ran the household. Of course there are always chores to attend to on a farm and the girls were expected to do their fair share. Being the oldest, Zona was also expected to look after her younger sisters. When Zona wasnt helping out on the farm or with younger siblings, she could be found with her friends attending school in Ravenna. After graduating from high school, Zona started nurses training at Hackley School of Nursing in Muskegon. An acquaintance from high school, named Merrill Bailey, offered to drive Zona to school every day while on his way to work. The two started talking and getting to know each other on these daily rides. An attraction developed between them and the two young people started dating. They fell in love, exchanging their wedding vows on October 30, 1943 in Ravenna. The young couple started their married life together in Muskegon, living for a time in a house on Laketon Avenue, before moving to Glenside. Over the years Zona and Merrill brought three beautiful children into the world: Donald in 1945, George in 1949 and daughter Kay in 1954. Merrill supported the family by finding employment as a quality control engineer at Anaconda. Zona put her nursing career on hold in order to give her children all her love and attention. As the children started school she became active in the PTA and other school acivities. In the late 1950s the family moved to Davis Road, in Norton Shores, where they built a new home. As a family, the Baileys enjoyed traveling and boating. Many Sundays they could be found on the beach at the Sand Docks relaxing, soaking up the sun, and watching the waves. With their boat they also enjoyed fishing together, something that Zona was especially good at. When they could they packed up the kids and headed out for some vacation adventures. Their most memorable trips were to California and the New York Worlds Fair. Even though the boys sometimes fought in the car, the children still reminisce about the fun times that they had as a family. Zona and her daughter would shop along the way, always pleased when they found a bargain. Merrills job also afforded him the opportunity to travel. He and Zona had the chance to travel not only in the United States, but to Europe as well, making good friends everywhere they went. When the children were older and more independent, Zona returned to nursing, finding employment at the Muskegon Health Department where she worked for ten years, before retiring in 1981. In her spare time Zona raised and tended flower gardens. She definitely had a green thumb and spent many happy hours tending to a wide variety of flowers. She became known as a master gardener, entering her flowers in local competition where she proudly won several awards. Fittingly, Zona belonged to the Herb Society, Questors and other horticultural organizations in the area. She became good friends with some of the other ladies in these groups and enjoyed going to lunch with them where they could compare notes. At this time, Merrill became involved in politics, eventually becoming Mayor of Norton Shores for sixteen years. These were exciting times and Zona enjoyed helping out in his political endeavors. Politics afforded them the chance to travel state-wide and even overseas. Always one to keep busy, Zona and Merrill also bought a farm in Ravenna where they could spend quiet time and of course this gave Zona more opportunity to grow her spectacular flower gardens. When Zona became a grandmother, she excelled in this new role just as she had in the role of being a mother. She was a devoted grandmother, babysitting often and helping out in whatever she was needed. She spent time with each grandchild, making sure they felt loved and special. Even as Zona became older, her feisty and active personality remained evident. She spent time in the Florida Keys, where her son George owned a home, continued the fishing expeditions and even took a cruise with the whole family. Zona was always up for an activity, whether it was a drive down to the lake or shopping with the grandchildren. Sadly, the last few years Zonas health became a challenge, even slowing her down. She died on March 9, 2009 surrounded by her family. Zona Bailey was the kind of woman who took care of those around her. Not only did she help with her family growing up, she also nurtured and supported her family later on. She brought beauty to the world with her spectacular flower gardens as well as the love and care she gave to her loved ones. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her in her long and fruitful life. SURVIVORS Husband, Merrill; sons, Donald (Carol) Bailey of Rockford, George (Donna) Bailey of Muskegon; daughter, Kay Lynn (Tom) Anderson of CO; 9 grandchildren, Regina, Joseph, Julie, Jessica, Stephen, Christine, T.J., Nathan, Rob; 9 great grandchildren Samantha, Nicole, Alison, Adilana, Jacquelyn, Mukatla, Ethan, Henry, Summer; sisters, Susan Hulst, Clara Jo (Ted) Braybrook both of Grandville. She was preceded in death by her infant son, James, & sister, Dona. SERVICE Thursday, March 12, 2009, 11:00 AM at Central United Methodist Church with Rev. Dr. Randall Hansen officiating. Interment at Sunrise Memorial Gardens. VISITATION Wednesday, 2-4 & 6-8 PM at Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon. MEMORIAL: American Red Cross or Central Methodist Church. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book.