Bertha Bailey

Bertha “Bert” Bailey

January 8, 1939 – November 22, 2023

Bertha “Bert” Sowell Bailey was taken from us on November 22, 2023 at 84 years old. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and cherished friend.

Bert was born in Vassar, KS on January 8, 1939 to Claude and Ruby Sowell. She married the love of her life, Larry J. Bailey on December 13, 1956 in Topeka, KS. She had one stepdaughter, 3 daughters, & 2 sons.

On October 19, 1970, Bert received her nursing license and became an LVN at Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth, TX where she flourished in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). She was a NICU Nurse working in the Progressive Care Unit. She helped infants and mothers’ bond and prepare for their life at home after being dismissed from a long stay in the hospital. It is a specialized job requiring caring, nurturing and patience with new mothers and their NICU babies. Taking home a previously critically or seriously ill premature infant can be very scary, and Bert was phenomenal at providing the needed comfort and calming education for mothers to feel confident in caring for their baby at home. There were babies that refused to eat, and she was gifted with the ability to get them to take their bottle. She was able to hush the cries that seemed impossible to calm. She had the gift of almost instantly putting babies to sleep in her arms. Bert never lost her touch as the baby whisperer.

After 25 years at Cook Children’s, she retired and began travelling with her ornery husband Larry, AKA ‘Grumpy’.  Together they travelled across the U.S. and into Canada and Mexico living fulltime in their RV. In 2003 Larry and Bert found a beautiful mountain in Cuchara, CO and decided to build a cabin. They built their beautiful home by hand with the help of family and friends. Eventually, Larry’s health wouldn’t allow him to live at such high elevations, so they moved back to Texas. In June of 2020 Bert was diagnosed with Breast cancer, invasive ductal carcinoma, which she bravely fought with a lumpectomy and radiation. Then, in 2023 Larry’s health deteriorated. Bert lovingly took care of her husband of 66 years until he passed away on October 15, 2023.

Bert and Larry were fortunate to have many lifelong friends. Friendships that lasted through thick and thin, never wavering, even sharing interests in square-dancing, playing card games, travelling, family, and everything in between.

Bert was a member of the United Methodist Church of LaVeta, CO. She also had a love for the mountains. She continued to attend her church in the mountains via zoom after she moved to Texas.

Bert was preceded in death by her husband Larry, as well as her daughter Kristy Bush and son-in-law Dudley Havens. She has since been reunited with her daughter Shari Bailey and daughter-in-law Connie Bailey.

Bert is survived by: stepdaughter, Connie Havens; daughter, Patti Altman & Husband Randy; son, Kevin Bailey & Tanya; and son, David Bailey; sister, Barbara Young and brother, Keith Sowell; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, as well as nieces, and nephews.

There will be a small service prior to the Celebration of life to place Bertha’s ashes with her husband Larry at DFW National Cemetery.

The Celebration of Life service for Bert and Shari will be held together at 12:30pm on February 2, 2024 at First Methodist Church Mansfield located at 777 N Walnut Creek Drive, Mansfield, TX 76063.

Bert’s departure leaves many questions and mixed emotions, but her memory will forever be cherished as a reminder of a life well lived. She may have left this world, but she will never leave our hearts.