Oakhill Cemetery
Pittsburg, Oklahoma

McAlester News Capital
Friday November 9, 2001
Submitted by: Carol Spear Rice
Selena (Spear) Bayless
March 4, 1918 ~ Nov. 7, 2001

Selena Spear Bayless, 83, of Haileyville, died Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2001, at McAlester Regional Health Center. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the Masonic Section of Oak Hill Cemetery with Dr. Kevin Boyd officiating. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Chaney-Harkins Funeral Home of McAlester. Born March 4, 1918, in Haileyville, she was the daughter of the Rev. Thomas and Elizabeth Spear. She graduated from Haileyville High School in 1936, where she was involved with numerous activities and was a straight "A" student. At age 12, she became a pianist for her father's church and continued to play the piano or organ until she entered Hill's Business School. She married L. George Bayless on May 27, 1942, at Haileyville's First Christian Church. She worked for the Bank of Haileyville, Rhode Island National Bank of Providence, R.I. and Union Bank of Ventura, Calif. She and her husband retired from a homeowned market in Ventura, Calif. in 1966 and then moved to Oklahoma. She had been a member of the First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ since age 12. Presently she was a member of McAlester's First Presbyterian Church. She was a member of the BPW, joining in California in 1955, served as president of the Hartshorne and McAlester clubs and served as district director. She was Woman of the Year for the Hartshorne BPW in 1983. She was also a member of the Federated Music Club and served as the Oklahoma state chapter's president, board member and held several national offices. She was a life member of NFMC. For 33 years she served as a volunteer at McAlester Regional Health Center. She was president of the Auxiliary for eight years and Volunteer Coordinator for 23 years. Presently she was a member of the McAlester Rotary Club and a Paul Harris fellow. Survivors include a son, Thomas G. Bayless and wife, Janice of Moore; a brother-in-law, Duke Ellis of Atoka; a nephew, George Ellis and wife, Kathy of Atoka and several other nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be J. William Allford, Robert B. Segal, Clarence N. Brigham, Greta J. Stephenson, Paul T. Green and Fredonia G. Vogle. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the McAlester Regional Auxiliary Volunteer Services. Memorials may be made to the Handbell Choir of First Presbyterian Church of McAlester.

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