Elaine Rankin Bailey (81)
November 26, 1936 – November 26, 2017
Andover, MA
Mrs. Elaine (Rankin) Bailey died peacefully on her 81st birthday, Sunday, November 26, 2017, at the Meadows Health Center at Edgewood in North Andover after living with cancer for the past five and a half years.
She was the daughter of the late Gladys (Monroe) & T. Reid Rankin of Big Stone Gap, VA. An alumna of Northfield School for Girls, E. Northfield, MA, she graduated from the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA, in 1959. She lived and worked in New York City for four years, primarily at the American Field Service, and then returned to Northfield to work in the administration, before marrying her beloved husband of 49 years, Carroll W. Bailey, an English teacher at the nearby Mt. Hermon School for Boys.
Elaine and Carroll moved to Andover in 1970, where he taught for 27 years and she fulfilled many community roles in support of student residential life and advising, especially as co-dean of Abbot Cluster during the first ten years after the merger of Abbot Academy and Phillips Academy in 1973. With Carroll, she also was instrumental in the curation and historic preservation of arts and artifacts at Phillips Academy, and she co-led the Washington (DC) Intern Program for several years. She filled every day with unique interest in and care for others, always making each person feel important. Throughout their career the Baileys were an inseparable, one-of-a-kind team in teaching and mentoring their students and colleagues.
After retirement in 1997, Elaine and Carroll lived at historic Rose Cottage on Chestnut Street in the heart of Andover, where they loved to tend their flower gardens. In 2001, they were honored as joint recipients of the McKeen Award, given annually to members of the Phillips Academy community who exemplify “inspired and dedicated leadership in education” in the spirit of Philena McKeen, former principal of Abbot Academy. In 2015, Elaine was the first recipient of the Josie Rigby Spirit Award, an Alumni Citation in recognition of outstanding volunteers at Northfield Mount Hermon and in its Alumni Association.
Elaine and Carroll moved to Atria Marland Place in Andover in 2012. She was a former board member of the Andover Historical Society, a member of the Andover Garden Club, and a parishioner at Christ Church, Andover. Her head, heart, and hands were open to all; she spread hospitality wherever she went. She also enjoyed traveling, reading, cooking, and needlepoint. She was predeceased by her beloved younger sister, Reida Rankin, and is survived by her devoted husband, a number of close nieces, nephews, and cousins, and countless former students and associates around the world.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Carroll W. and Elaine Bailey Scholarship at Phillips Academy, Andover, MA, to Northfield Mount Hermon School, Gill, MA, to the Rankin Scholarship at Mountain Empire Community College, Big Stone Gap, VA, or for student aid at the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA.
A celebration of her life will be held at Christ Church, 33 Central Street, Andover, MA, at 3:00 PM on Saturday, December 16, 2017, with burial in the Phillips Academy Cemetery, Chapel Avenue, Andover, MA, at a future date. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Burke-Magliozzi Funeral Home of Andover. For additional information, please visit, www.burkemagliozzi.com.