Obituary of Gertrude "Ginger" Bailey

Gertrude (Ginger) Evelyn Bailey, died September 15, 2018, at home in Morgantown, West Virginia after a long illness.

Ginger was born on October 23, 1937, in Chicago, Illinois to Winifred Van der Pol and Paul Laninga. Ginger was the oldest of three children. She attended Roseland Christian School and Chicago Christian High School and then went on to graduate from Cook County School of Nursing in 1961. Later, she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix and became a Certified Occupational Health Nurse-Specialist (COHN-S) through the American Board for Occupational Health Nurses. Ginger worked at Tucson General Hospital for a number of years as a critical care nurse in the intensive care unit and then at Tucson Electric Power (TEP) for more than 25 years as an occupational health nurse. She retired in 2007. For many years, she was active in the Arizona Kachina Association of Occupational Health Nurses. She volunteered to help people and animals in need and was involved with TEP’s Community Action Team. She also volunteered for Operation Deep Freeze, a program that provides shelter to homeless people on Tucson’s coldest nights.

She loved animals and often fostered them until she could find a home for them which often ended up being her home. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She loved spoiling her grandchildren. Her home was always welcoming with animals and kids and grandkids coming and going. In 2013, she moved to Morgantown, West Virginia to live with her daughters.

Ginger is survived by three children, Cole (Therese) Bailey, Rachel Bailey, and Rebecca Griesmer; her brother, Paul (Beverly) Laninga and sister, Gloria Bodnar. She is also survived by eight grandchildren, Aeron Bailey, Courtney Baca, Garrett Griesmer, Kallum Griesmer, Marshal Cash Bailey, Abilene Bailey, Justice Cade Bailey, and Shane Baker as well as nieces and nephews, Wendy (Tracy) Williams, Bill (Andrea) Bodnar, Debbie (Dave) Hodgett, Kelly (Brian) Clodi, Erin (Paul) Grimes, Michael (Sara) Laninga, Daniel McCarty, and Dione Thompson. Ginger is preceded in death by her grandson, Cole Adrian Bailey; her mother, Winifred (Winnie) Laninga; her father, Paul Laninga; and former husband, Roger Bailey. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

 A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 10, 2018, at 10:00 am at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church at 1431 W Magee Road in Tucson, Arizona.

Hastings Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements and online condolences may be made at www.hastingsfuneralhome.com.