Obituary of Angeline Bailey

Angeline "Ann" T. Spiropolos Bailey died at home June 22 at age 96. She was born Sept. 1, 1914, at her grandmother's homestead on Lookout Mountain, Baker County, Ore., to George S. and Lettie Caldwell Spiropolos. She survived the 1918 flu epidemic and lived to enjoy great-grandchildren and travel the world. She proudly recalled her grandmothers talking about getting to vote for the first time, and her father receiving his citizenship, events that inspired her interest in citizenship, politics and news. Her mother died in the 1918 flu epidemic, leaving Ann and younger sisters, Catherine and Mary. Her father remarried when she was nine, and a third sister, Elaine, was born. Throughout their youth, the sisters were engaged in the family sheep ranch operations in the Fox Creek and Seven Devils areas and at Lookout Mountain. Succeeding generations have enjoyed the sisters' tales of tending sheep, trail rides, wild horses, pranks, hobo visitors, and how they survived difficult times. Some stories were chronicled in the 1996 Idaho Power Oral History Project. Ann left home at age 15 to work for board and room. She graduated from St. Francis Academy in Baker City in 1933 and the Boise's Links School of Business in 1936. The sacrifices Ann made for her own schooling created her passion for education. She never stopped encouraging others to seek academic and artistic goals In 1936, she married Howard E. Reynolds in Boise. They had four children. Together they built and remodeled homes in Boise area. She also worked in administration at Boise Junior College and the Idaho Legislature. In 1964 she married Claude D. "Bill" Bailey of Boise. They enjoyed golfing and traveling together until his death in 1980. She continued traveling, to Europe, the Middle East and the Americas. She was a 50-year member of Daughters of Penelope and helped cook for the Greek Festival until she was 90. She delighted in hosting dinners at home, including fund raisers for Gov. Cecil Andrus. Most of all, she "belonged" to her friends, with some friendships spanning 85-90 years. She was preceded in death by two of her children: George E. Reynolds, La Paz, Mexico; and Dorothy (Oscar) Baumhoff, Boise; her sisters: Catherine Boosinger, Coeur d'Alene; Mary Gerry, Scappoose, Ore.; and Elaine Jackson, Baker City, Ore. She is survived by daughters Heidi Bailey, Boise and Margaret (Bill) Bradbury, Indianapolis, Ind.; grandchildren: Fred, Cini, and Bruce (Stacy) Baumhoff, Anna (Brian) Goffin, Jill (Ray) Nebeker, Ginger Williston, and Brandee Young; great-grandchildren: Vincent, Harmony, Britney and Caleb Baumhoff; Grant and Spencer Goffin; Josette, Dennis and Mark Nebeker; Alexander Williston and Jamie Strauman; stepdaughters: Diane Pope, Boise; Cheri Mink and Ruby Simonis, La Grande, Ore. She became "Mom" or "Nana" to many others, especially Fran Uberuaga, Deanna and Jarrell Root, and Craig Harvey. Ann and her family were deeply grateful for the guidance and assistance of the St. Luke Hospice team during the final months of her life, especially Sue, Pam, Rachel, Irene, Deanna, Leah, and Jennifer. Services will be conducted by Fr. Tom Faucher at 11 a.m. Monday at Summers Funeral Home on Ustick. Interment following at Cloverdale Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Boise State University Scholarship Program.