|
Bernice Marie Williams Bayless died at home in Farmington, NM on July 28, 2007. Bernie was born September 16, 1927 to Annie Leota Lassiter Williams and Paris Hadley Williams in Tulsa, OK. She grew up in the supportive environment of many aunts and uncles. Bernie graduated from Central High School in Tulsa where she first met Robert L. (Bob) Bayless. After a year at Oklahoma A & M, where she joined the Alpha Delta Pi sorority, she transferred to the University of Tulsa. While at TU, she was the editor of the yearbook, the Kendallabrum, and graduated in 1949 with a degree in journalism. After meeting in high school and dating throughout college, Bernie and Bob were married in Tulsa on August 25, 1949. They moved to Ponca City, OK, Los Angeles, and back to Oklahoma, before settling in Farmington, NM in 1958. By this time, they had four young children. Bernie focused her time on raising the children and creating a home while Bob worked on developing an oil and gas company; first on his own, then for many years in a successful partnership with J. Gregory Merrion, and then with his family as Robert L. Bayless, Producer. Bernie was an active community volunteer with over 40 years in the hospital auxiliary. She also enjoyed PEO and her study club. She was a long time member of the Presbyterian Church. Both with Bob and through the Bayless Charitable Fund, Bernie provided support to the San Juan Cancer Center, the Farmington Boys and Girls Club, the San Juan College Foundation, the new Farmington Public Library, and most recently, to the University of Tulsa, through the creation of Bayless Plaza. Bernie and Bob traveled through Europe, Asia, Australia and South America during the 1980s and 1990s. Bob died December 6, 2002. Bernie is survived by their four children and their families: daughter, Cindy Roberts, and husband, Tommy; son, Tucker Bayless, and wife, Karen; daughter, Betsy McCord, and husband, Kevin, all of Farmington, NM; son, Rob Bayless and wife, Ginny, of Denver, CO. Bernie's grandchildren are: Alison Roberts of Denver; Samantha Roberts of Tulsa; Nick Bayless of New Haven, CT; Robbie Bayless of Boston, MA; Paige Bayless of Hamilton, NY; Liza Bayless of Middletown, DE; Matt McCord of Denver; Allen McCord of Houston, TX; and Tucker McCord of Stillwater, OK. Bernie was buried at Greenlawn Cemetery in Farmington, NM. Donations in Bernie's memory may be made to the San Juan Regional Medical Foundation, P.O. Box 110, Farmington, NM 87499, or to a charitable organization of choice.
|
