Obituary of Phyllis Yvonne Bailey

Phyllis Yvonne Bailey, 86, passed away peacefully in her home on October 16, 2019. Phyllis was a loving, kind, generous mother, sister, wife and friend. Born in Trenton, Phyllis had many friends in the Colonial Lakeland area where she and beloved late husband, Tom grew up as neighbors, attending Slackwood Elementary and Trenton High School together. As a youngster, Phyllis was a popular song and dance performer at theaters in the greater Trenton area. Her singing talent was later enjoyed by parishioners attending her church choir. Upon leaving Otterbein College, Phyllis worked as a secretary in her father’s trucking business, Mercer Motor Freight. Phyllis married Tom in 1952 and they continued to build their life and family in Lawrence, NJ. She was a devoted mother to her children, Michael, Thomas W. and Robyn. After her children entered school, Phyllis returned to the workforce in various library management positions at Lawrence High School and Princeton Day School.  

As retirement approached, Phyllis and Tom moved to Skippers Cove in Waretown, NJ. They spent the remainder of their days between Waretown and Punta Gorda, Florida. Phyllis was an active member of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church of Waretown, where she sang in the choir and worked in the Thrift Shop. Every week her family received more and more items that were such “great bargains”! She loved spending her afternoons on outings with her girlfriends. Some of her favorite times were spent on the lagoon with her husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and puppy “Chablis”.  

Phyllis is predeceased by her parents, Michael and Mildred Palmere, husband of 66 years Thomas Bailey Jr., and her brother Vincent W. Palmere. 

She leaves behind her children, son Michael Bailey and wife Sheryl Karlsberg, son Thomas W. Bailey and wife Kathy, and daughter Robyn Balmer and her husband Thomas; Six grandchildren, Thomas Balmer and wife Jennifer, Bailey Viola and husband Ron, Kyle Bailey and fiancé Vanessa, Megan Bailey and fiancé Sean, Blair Bailey and Drew Bailey; four great-grandchildren, Thomas, Jack and Owen Balmer, and Roarke Viola; and her sisters, Darlene Byrne and Merle Van Houten.

Funeral services for Phyllis will be held on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 at 11 AM at Poulson & Van Hise Funeral Directors, 650 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648. Burial will follow in the Ewing Cemetery.

Visitation for family and friends will be held on Monday from 5 to 7 PM at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Phyllis to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601, www.alz.org