Eunice Bailey

Eunice Marie Bailey was loved by everyone who had the pleasure to know her. She was a beloved sister to her siblings and a frequent devoted baby sitter to her many nieces and nephews. We all have many fond memories with Eunice and will miss her greatly. Born on February 2, 1924, to Elizabeth Estelle Moran and Joseph Clarence Bailey, Eunice Marie demonstrated a strong desire for life from the beginning. She was a miracle of the medical science of the day who almost didn't survive infancy. Most likely the consequence of trauma caused by an automobile accident her mother had while pregnant with Eunice, she was born with a birth defect whereby her skull had not developed as expected and a portion of her brain was unprotected at the back of her head. The Doctor present at her birth thought that she had a fluid deposit at the back of her head that needed to be lanced and drained. If not for the powerful personality of her grandmother, who prevented the physician from carrying out the surgery, she might not have made it. Eunice overcame her birth defect and subsequent corrective surgery needed to protect her brain. She grew up with cerebral palsy and was unable to walk until she was 9 and unable to see until she was 14. She attended the Washington DC school for crippled children as a child, completing the 8th grade which was the highest level offered at that time. Education was very important to Eunice and as an adult in the 1960s, she was determined to complete high school. So, on her own initiative, Eunice enrolled in the Prince George's county evening high school program at Bladensburg High School. Despite her handicap, she navigated the public transportation system including bus exchanges to attend school and ultimately graduated in 1969. She was so very proud of her educational accomplishment that she wore her PG evening high school class ring for the remainder of her life. After graduating from high school, Eunice passed the civil service exam and started work for the Federal Government. For 15 years she worked the 4-midnight shift as a file clerk for the Department of Immigration and Naturalization. In 1985, following an accident while crossing the busy street in front of PG Plaza which left Eunice with a broken hip and long recovery, she retired from office work. Always with family, Eunice lived with her maternal grandparents, George and Margaret Moran, at their home at 12th and E Streets, SE, so she could attend school in the District of Columbia, then with her parents and siblings, Margaret, George and Elizabeth on R Street in Bradbury Heights. As an adult, Eunice lived with her sisters, first with Elizabeth and husband Robert Fischer and their son, Joseph Fred, in Northern Virginia. Then, when military duty sent the Fischer's overseas, Eunice joined Margaret and husband Bryson Couvillon and their children, Margaret, Paul and Ruth Ann in University Park, Maryland. As both Margaret and Eunice were developing additional medical needs, Eunice moved in with her niece, Margaret's daughter, Ruth Ann and husband Mark West and their children, Rachel and Rebecca in Hyattsville, Maryland, prior to her retirement into the Sacred Heart Nursing Home in Hyattsville. On June 3rd, 2011, Eunice Marie Bailey awoke happy and talkative. Her nurses report that she went down for a nap mid-morning, and when they went in to wake her for lunch, she had passed. Eunice was 87 years old.
On Friday, June 3, 2011 peacefully passed. Beloved sister and aunt. She is survived by her brother, George H. Bailey; sister, Elizabeth A. Bailey Fischer and brother in law, Bryson S. Couvillon; a great many nieces and nephews and their children. She was predeceased by her sister, Margaret Bailey Couvillon. The family will receive guests on Thursday, June 9 from 6 to 9pm at GASCH'S FUNERAL HOME, P.A., 4739 Baltimore Ave., Hyattsville, MD. Services will be held on Friday, June 10 at 10:30 am, open casket prior to service at the First United Methodist Church of Hyattsville, 6201 Belcrest Rd., Hyattsville, MD. Repast following. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her name to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, P.O. Box 78960, Phoeniz, AZ. 85062

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