Betty Jane Bailey, 82

Betty J. Bailey was born on Nov. 22, 1923. Betty was fondly know as "Babe" and was born, raised and lived in Colburn, Idaho. She grew up in a big yellow house at Colburn. After she was married, she lived in Dover and Sandpoint but returned to her favorite, Colburn.

Babe lost her fight with cancer on January 9, 2006.

At a young age, she met and married Ken Stradley and they had three children, Wes, Kent, and Curt. After they went their separate ways, she met and married Vernon Bailey Jr. on Sept. 26, 1949. Together they raised five more children; Vernon III, Terry, Ray, Karen and Gary.

Babe and Vern have been married for 59 years and have had many happy times together.

During her full life, she enjoyed getting her hands dirty in the garden, working outdoors, camping , and was even seen helping the men of the house with some log cutting.

Babe was a very active person and she loved fishing the streams of North Idaho as well as trying her luck in Alaska and the Pacific. Babe was quite a hunter and brought in her share of deer and an occasional bear. She even had her own four-wheeler and was seen cruising around the area with Vern.

In addition to all that, for some years she drove a school bus for Bonner County, taking on all those "north of town kids." She was Mrs. Bailey to them and even though she was barely over five feet tall she had respect from even the biggest of the boys. She had a corner of the bus that was quite rowdy but the students were never allowed to act out … If they did, their fate was the same as everyone else. Do the crime … do the time! Which meant that Mrs. Bailey would happily escort you off the bus until further order. Which actually meant that you were a goner until you could behave and apologize. If I remember correctly, one or two of those kids were her own … no exceptions!

Babe (Mom and Grandma) will be missed more that she can ever know and is loved by us all. She was preceded in death by her son, Wes. Babe is survived by her husband Vernon, at home, and her adult children, Dent Stradley (Carroll). Curt Stradley (Bonnie), Vernon Bailey III (Christine), Terry Bailey (Wilma), Ray Bailey, Karen Walker (Duffy), and Gary Bailey, 12 grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.

Private family service will be held at a later date. Remembrance pending.