Betty J. Bailey

Betty J. Bailey, age 84, of Milton-Freewater and formerly of La Grande died April 13, 2005 at Walla Walla General Hospital. Burial will be at Grandview Cemetery.

Mrs. Bailey was born on February 14, 1921 to Homer J. and Viola J. Harrison Graham in La Grande. She graduated from La Grande High School in 1939 and married Lloyd Knapp. She attended modeling school in Burbank, California and was one of three models appearing on national war billboards. After the war the couple moved to Spokane and were later divorced. She attended Kinman Business University with Dr. David Cowman and became a dental hygienist. In 1950 she married Lt. Charles C. Bailey. They were later divorced. She moved with her daughter to Salem and worked for Oregon State University before moving to La Grande where they lived for a short time. For the next 40 years she lived in Milton-Freewater where she worked for the police department until her retirement in 1972. She cared for her mother until her death at the age of 102, and for the last five years lived with her daughter and son-in-law. She was a member of the Eagles Auxiliary and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Tamra and Donald Mooney of Milton-Freewater; four grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and other relatives. A son, Jerry Kent, died earlier.

Memorials may be made to the Autism Research institute.