Eloise Bailey

Eloise Morton Bailey, 84, left this earth to join her beloved husband and to be home with her Savior on Wednesday, August 7.A celebration of her life is scheduled at River Outreach Church in Pineville on Sunday, August 11. Visitation is from 1-3 pm, with the service to follow. A graveside service is scheduled for 5 pm at American Cemetery in Natchitoches. Friends, family, and relatives are invited to attend this special time to remember the lady who lived a life as a servant to many and became a “second mama” to many others. Eloise was born March 24, 1935, in Etoile, Texas. She was the oldest of two girls born to Molly Roberts. She moved to Natchitoches from Campti in 1954 and married Roy. They lived above the old Piggly Wiggly on Front Street. While Roy served as a Sales Representative for Nabisco for 41 years, Eloise served as Assistant to the President of City Bank, Ed Pierson. After her retirement, she continued to serve on the board of the American Cemetery. At the time of her death, she was still the Secretary-Treasurer of the cemetery’s trust, a position she had held for 65 years. During the 70s and 80s, Eloise and her husband Roy Jr. opened their home on Sibley Lake to college students who were attending Northwestern State University. When the church asked members to adopt one or two students, the Baileys took on dozens, opening their doors on weekends to students to hang out in a Christian environment. They relaxed, shared stories, played cards until midnight (or later), helped with homework, played pool, watched movies and lived life together. For the students, it was their home away from home and many of those students have stayed in touch through the years. She earned – and proudly wore – the moniker of caretaker. Even in her later years, she felt it her calling to care for others. Family first, and others who became “family” to her. Mrs. Bailey was preceded in death by her beloved Roy Jr. Before his death in 2017, they had been married for 63 years; She is survived by two sons, Chip Bailey and wife Elizabeth, of Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Robert “Joey” Bailey of Alexandria; five grandchildren: Josh Bailey and wife Kristina of Baton Rouge; Jason Bailey of Lafayette; Destin Bailey of Lafayette; Kristyn “Krissy” Bailey and fiancé Brandon Etheridge of Shreveport and Kellye Nicole Bailey of Kilgore, Texas; one sister, Judy Kieffer of Longview, Texas; cousin Lydia Conlay of Colorado Springs, Colorado; and four great-grandchildren; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.