Melvena Bailey ended her journey on this earth at 9 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 6. She was 95 years young. Melvena was born and raised in Leesville, LA. She graduated from a nearby high school in 1947, where she participated in basketball and was well liked.

After graduation, she married her high school sweetheart, Milton Glenn Bailey, a US Marine sergeant, in July 1947. From that day on they took part in a 78-year adventure that included moving to Los Alamos, having children and working at LANL and LA County. After the birth of her children, Melvena worked as an accountant for LA County for 25 years, becoming well known and respected in local government. She eventually retired in 1968.

She enjoyed cooking, square dancing, being a good mother and wife, and traveling back to Louisiana to visit family members of both her and her husband. She was a devoted mother and a beloved family member.

Melvena is pre-deceased by her husband of many years survived by her sons Doug (Donna) Bailey of Mesa, AZ and Mike (Bertha) Bailey of Santa Fe, NM and her daughter Gail Bailey of Los Alamos, NM along with numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, plus many family members and friends.

Although you may have heard the poem below, the Bailey family must join in sharing what a lovely soul wrote so beautifully, capturing the heartfelt loss of losing Melvena, our mother. She was a great wife, a great mother and one of womenkind’s finest. God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be,

So He put his arms around you and whispered “Come with me”.
With tearful eyes we watched you fade away,
And although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay.
A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands now rest.
God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best!|

Rest in Peace this Christmas season 2025.

To leave stories, pictures, and comments for the family to cherish, please visit www.riverafamilyfuneralhome.com.