Marilyn Kay Bailey

Marilyn Kay Bailey

April 8, 1947 – November 6, 2023

76 years old

Marilyn peacefully went from the arms of her husband of 53 years to the arms of her First Love, The Lord Jesus Christ, in their Las Cruces NM home on November 6, 2023.

Marilyn was born April 8, 1947, in Albuquerque, NM to John and Mary (Barber) Tillotson. She was the youngest of four siblings: Nancy, Charles, and Margaret (Meg). Marilyn married James E. Bailey on June 11, 1970, in Albuquerque, NM.

Marilyn graduated in 1969 from Sterling College, Sterling, KS with her teaching degree. She worked one year in Truth or Consequences, NM as a teacher and then invested many years educating her own children. Training them not only in academics, but in serving and loving others.

Marilyn enjoyed riding her bike, baking bread from scratch, making jelly, creating many crafts, reading, camping, reading/studying her Bible and in the later years she loved making greeting cards and even considered those her ministry. If you knew Marilyn well, you would have known two things; her kind smile and that she was a prayer warrior. She loved people and knew the power of prayer! Marilyn had a deep love and devotion to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She loved her husband of 53 years and was a loving and dedicated mother of six children and 17 grandchildren.

Survived by her husband James Bailey of Las Cruces, NM, sister and brother-in-law Margaret (Meg) and Kieth Thomas of Grants, NM, son and daughter-in-law, Steven and Tara Bailey of Independence, KY, son and daughter-in-law Andy and Kristi Bailey of Lawrenceburg, IN, son-in-law Dwight Tiqui of Las Cruces, daughter and son-in-law, Kim and Robert Tirey of Herodsberg, KY, daughter and son-in-law, Katrina and Matthias Funk of Berbach, Germany, daughter Kristi Bailey of Las Cruces, grandson Gabriel Bailey of Independence, KY, granddaughters Chloe of Thomaston, GA and Mae Bailey of Lawrenceburg, IN, grandsons Noah and Levi Bailey of Lawrenceburg, IN, grandsons Emilio Tiqui of Las Cruces, NM, Dario (Georgia) Tiqui of Sioux Falls, SD, Lazaro and Eliseo Tiqui of Las Cruces, NM, grandson Alex Tirey of Harrodsburg, KY, granddaughters Trinity and Charleigh Tirey of Harrodsburg, KY, grandsons, Daniel, Lukas and Silas Funk of Berbach. Germany, granddaughters Rebecca and Elena (Elli) Funk of Berbach, Germany.

Preceded in death by her mother Mary Barber Tillotson on Febuary 26, 1994, Father John Tillotson on February 16, 1995, grandson Moses Tiqui on November 13, 2003, daughter Rebekah Tiqui on January 21, 2007, sister Nancy Tillotson Wiggins on Febuary 3, 2014 and brother Charles Tillotson on August 23, 2019.

A Memorial Services will be held at 4pm on Sunday, November 12, 2023, at the Bethel Bible Fellowship, 3890 Stern Drive, Las Cruces, NM 88001. A meal will follow the service.

In this time of loss, we are rejoicing that Marilyn is with her Lord and Savior! Marilyn expressed a desire for color and therefore, the family prefers colors to be worn in lieu of black, that is more in keeping with this celebration of her going Home!

A Graveside service will be held at the Messianic Cemetery on Monday, November 13, 2023, at 2 pm. The family requests the dress to be more casual at this service.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Southwest Bible Camp. Please make checks payable to SWBC and mail to the Bethel Bible Fellowship, PO Box 430, Mesilla Park, NM 88047.