Mary Edna White Bailey, 93, died July 7, 2011 with her family by her side in Prague, Oklahoma.

Mary was born May 9, 1918 to Charles McKnight White and Mary Edna Inman White. She lived in the Stroud area and graduated from Stroud High School in 1936.

Mary's faith was a defining point in her life from an early age. When she was 11, a group moved to her community and established a church and held a revival. She went to the revival, held in the Plainview School House, and learned about the life, death and resurrection of Christ. That day she was saved and baptized, and she began attending the new Church of God in Plainview.

She married Albert Bailey on March 1, 1939. In 1943, while they were living in Oklahoma City, Albert bought them a Bible. It was the first one she had ever owned. The Bible became very important to Mary; it carried her through not only physical storms, but the trials and tribulations of life.

After a short time, Mary and Albert moved to a home north of Paden. Jimmie, Mary Ellen and Edward {Eddie Frank} were born there. They returned to the city, where Vernon was born. Then they moved back to Paden to stay. There Leon, Charles and Ruth "Candy" were born.

For most of their time together, Mary and Albert were farmers and ranchers. They also ran the Midway general store between 1948 and 1949.

Mary was dedicated to her faith and her family. She was a talented seamstress, gardener and manager of her family and home.

She was a member of the Homemaker's Club for 60 years and won many prizes in the county fair for her bread, cake and canning.

She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

She was a Sunday school teacher and choir member at the Paden First Baptist Church for many years. For the past ten years, she attended the Paden Free Will Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles McKnight White and Mary Edna Inman White; her brother Ralph White; her husband Albert Bailey and her son Charles Bailey.

Mary is survived by six children and their spouses, Jim and Norma Bailey of Paden; Mary Ellen Ratica of San Jose, California; Edward {Frank} Bailey of Paden; Vernon and Gloria Bailey of Tupelo; Leon and Judy Bailey; and Paul and Ruth Newport of Paden; her brother Charles White of Ark City; her sisters Marie Norris of Tulsa; and Elnora Bowen of Sapulpa; twenty four grandchildren; thirty eight great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 11, 2011 at 2:00 p.m., at the Freewill Baptist Church in Paden with Rev. Jim Eastep officiating.

Interment will follow at the Paden Cemetery in Paden.

Services are under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Service in Prague.