Lela Ensor Bailey, 95, of Elizabethton, passed away Wednesday, February 17, 2016, at Ivy Hall Nursing Home.
A native of Carter County, she was a daughter of the late Robert and Jessie White Ensor.
Mrs. Bailey was a graduate of Unaka High School, East Tennessee State College and received her Master’s of Education from Oklahoma State University. Her career in teaching started at Midway Elementary School on Stoney Creek. She moved to Louisville, Ky., where she taught school in Jefferson County for over 20 years. She returned to Stoney Creek 30 years ago. She was a member of Dungan Chapel Baptist Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Bailey; five sisters, Amelia Nidiffer, Mary “Poll” Ensor, Tilda Grindstaff, Dorothy “Dot” Kress and Ruth Garrison; and five brothers, John, Dan, Ben, Cecil and Jim Ensor.
Survivors include a son, George Robert Bailey and wife Porter Watkins, Louisville, Ky.; a step-son, Kenneth Bailey, Louisville, Ky.; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Lela Ensor Bailey will be conducted at 7 p.m. Monday, February 22, at Memorial Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Eric Heaton officiating. Graveside services and interment will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, February 23, in the Ensor Cemetery. Active pallbearers, who are requested to assemble at the cemetery at 10:50 a.m. Tuesday, will be Kenneth Nidiffer, Glen Ensor, Charles Ensor, Owen Grindstaff, Earnest Ensor, Jimmy Ensor, Billy Bob Garrison and Kenny Bailey. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. The family would like to express a special “Thank You” to the staff of Ivy Hall Nursing Home. Family and friends will assemble at the cemetery at 10:50 a.m. Tuesday. Condolences to the family may be sent to our website at www.memorialfcelizabethton.com.
Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Bailey family.