- Date Of Birth: July 26, 1918
- Date Of Death: July 5, 2012
- State: Florida
Laura A. Bailey, 93, a longtime resident of Fort Walton Beach passed away on July 5, 2012. She traveled by train from Texas in 1942 and married Private First Class Orval R. Bailey stationed at Eglin Field.
Laura Bailey was born in Harper, TX and grew up on a sheep, goat & cattle ranch. Laura attended Schreiner Military Institute 1937-1938; University of Texas 1938-1942 graduated with a B.S. degree; University of Chicago 1950-1951.
Laura was active in organizations as early as 1934 with the 4-H; she was selected by The Dept. of Agriculture to attend a National 4-H Camp in Washington DC at age 17; at Schreiner Military Institute she was the Society Editor for campus news, Company X member (a co-ed organization working on the same framework as rifle companies), and the co-ed Choral Club. At the University of Texas she was President and organizer of W.I.C.A. (Women’s Independent Campus Assoc.).
In 1942 Laura started teaching at the Fort Walton School. At the request of Eglin she taught on base for 9 years. After Eglin she also taught for 9 years at Edwins Ele School and then 10 years at Shalimar Ele School. She was selected as Teacher of the Year in 1957. She was President of Delta Kappa Gamma.
She was preceded in death by father Theodore Oehler; mother Dorthea Rahe Oehler; husband, Orval; brothers, Edgar, David, Herbie, Herman, Chester, Carl; sisters, Lena, Alma, Clara, Dorothy, Margaret, Lorene. She is survived by brother Theodore John (TJ) Oehler and wife Vernel; daughter Sharon Nelson; son Jimmy Bailey and wife Linda Martin Bailey; granddaughter Kelly Nelson and husband Steve Decaprio; grandsons, Bret Bailey and wife Jessica, Clint Bailey; great grandson Colt Bailey.
Laura’s passion was the children she taught.
