Helen Elsie (Cook) Bailey (1909 - 1995)

Born 7 Jun 1909 in Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 9 Feb 1995 at age 85 in Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States

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Biography

Helen was born at home (55 Church St, Pittsfield) in 1909. She was the daughter of William Cook and Blanche Smith. She worked as a stenographer prior to marrying Prentiss Bailey on 30 May 1930. They had 3 children:

1. Joyce B. (b. 1931)
2. Gordon P. (b. 1935)
3. Beverly A. (b. 1945)

She was an active member of her church. Helen is also credited as the first licensed female ham radio operator in the United States. She passed away in 1995 and is buried in Ashuelot Cemetery, Dalton, Berkshire, Massachusetts.

Obituary

Helen E. Bailey, 85; retired from BMC. PITTSFIELD --- Mrs. Helen E. Bailey, 85, of Rose Manor died Thursday at Berkshire Medical Center. Born in Pittsfield on June 7, 1909, daughter of William D. and Blanche P. Smith Cook, she was a 1929 graduate of Pittsfield High School. Mrs. Bailey had been employed by Berkshire Medical Center, mainly in the medical records section, for more than 19 years until she retired in 1977. She also had worked part time at the Bishop Memorial School of Nursing as secretary to the director. She was the first licensed female ham radio operator in the United States. A member of South Congregational Church, she had served on its diaconate for four years and former president of both its May H. Mattoon class and Ladies' Benevolent Society. Mrs. Bailey had resided in Pittsfield until 1956, when she moved to Dalton. She returned to Pittsfield in 1964. Her husband, Prentiss M. Bailey, whom she married May 30, 1930, died in 1964. She leaves two daughters, Ms. Beverly A. Bailey of Becket and Mrs. Joyce B. Shook of Martinsburg, Pa.; a son, Gordon P. Bailey of Dalton; 11 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. The funeral will be conducted Monday at 11 at South Congregational Church by the Rev. Joel F. Huntington, pastor. Burial will be in Ashuelot Cemetery, Dalton. Calling hours at Wellington Funeral Home will be tomorrow from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the South Congregational Church flower fund.

Sources

• 1909 birth record [1].
• She was born in Pittsfield (Helen Elsie Cook; volume 582, page 104) [2].
• 1910 census lists her (age 10 months) living in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, with her parents [3].
• Listed in the 30 Jun 1929 edition of Amateur Radio Stations of the United States. Her station was W1AJJ and the address was 32 W. Hoosatonic St., Pittsfield, Mass. Prentis Bailey is also listed running station W1AZM at 67 Strong Ave., Pittsfield, Mass [4].
• 1930 census lists her (age 20) living in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, with her mother as roomers in the Fox family household [5].
• 1930 announcement of her marriage appeared in The Berkshire Eagle on April 4th (p. 9): "Engagement of Miss Cooke Announced. Mrs. B. P. Cook of 32 West Housatonic street announces the engagement of her daughter, Miss Helen E., to Prentiss M. Bailey, son of Mr. and Mrs. D. M. Bailey of 67 Strong avenue. May 30 has been set as the date for the wedding." [6]. A marriage intention was printed The Berkshire Eagle on May 24th (p. 13): "Prentiss Monroe Bailey, 67 Strong avenue, a test man at the General Electric plant, and Helen Elise Cooke, 32 West Housatonic street, a stenographer." [7].
• 1940 census lists Helen Bailey (age 31) with her husband, Prentiss Bailey (age 31), and their 2 children: Joyce (age 8) and Gordon (age 5). They were living in Pittsfield, MA [8].
• 1950 census lists Helen Bailey (age 40) with her husband, Prentiss Bailey (age 41), and their 3 children: Joyce (age 18), Gordon (age 15), and Beverley (age 5). They were living at 62 Dexter in Pittsfield, MA [9].
• 1956-1964 was living at 49 Pleasant View Drive in Dalton, MA [genealogy re records of Robert Smith].
• Her husband is listed as the owner of W1AZW, an amateur radio station located at 67 Strong Ave., Pittsfield, Massachusetts [10].
• Obituary appeared in the Berkshire Eagle 11 Feb 1995.
• Following her death, an estate notice was published in the Berkshire Eagle 28 on Jun 1995. The notice included the following statement: "A petition has been presented in the above captioned matter praying that GORDEN P. BAILEY of Dalton, in said County, be appointed to serve as Executor of the will of said deceased, without giving surety on his bond."
• Her entry in Find A Grave includes links to her husband and 3 children [11].
• Genealogy records of Robert Smith.