Betty Jane (Wertz) Bailey passed away peacefully Saturday, August 16, 2025, at the Cedars in Portland, Maine. Celebrating her 103rd birthday the day before, she was alert and conversational and enjoyed time outdoors on a lovely summer day. She lived a long life full of love and kindness until the very end.

Born August 15, 1922, to Blanche (Babcock) Wertz and John Wertz, she grew up in Mishawaka, Indiana. Although she acknowledged “not having an athletic bone in her body,” she instead had a lovely singing voice and played the saxophone in a small dance band in high school.

She graduated as valedictorian from Mishawaka High School in 1939 at age 16 and enrolled at Illinois Wesleyan University that same year. She worked to support her education,

including enjoyable summers as a waitress on cruise ships in the Great Lakes. When she and her sorority sisters sent letters to soldiers stationed at a nearby military training center, Jack Bailey was the fortuitous recipient of one from Miss Betty Wertz. He showed up on campus unexpectedly one day to meet his correspondent, finding her working at the university library and sparking a romance that lasted through 63 years of marriage. After the war, they settled in North Canton, Ohio, in 1948, where they raised their daughter, Cynthia, and resided until Jack’s passing in 2006. Later that year Betty moved to the Atrium at the Cedars in Portland, Maine, to be close to her daughter and son-in-law.

Betty graduated from IWU with a degree in French. She eventually put that to good use as a teacher in the Canton public schools. Her happiest assignment was teaching French to high-

ability students in grades 4-6. A recent pleasure in her life was renewed communication with one of those students.

Betty and Jack loved to travel. She enjoyed planning the details of dozens of trips throughout the US, Canada, and Europe. When she couldn’t find a companion for a trip to France one year, she went on her own, staying with families to improve her French. It was one of the best trips of her life!

Betty volunteered in many capacities. Wherever she lived, she was drawn to volunteering in private, public, or church libraries. However, volunteering as a docent at the National First Ladies Library and Museum in Canton, Ohio, was a special highlight during retirement. She presented herself as Bess Truman while guiding visitors through the Saxton-McKinley residence.

She compiled a notable collection of biographies of as many First Ladies as possible, including some printed in the 19th century. She presented many fascinating talks (without notes!) about many of these women at the Atrium, where she was once honored as Volunteer of the Year. She also received the Ben M. Herbster Award given to people who represented his leadership, support, and philanthropic spirit to United Church Homes in Ohio.

Sweet was the word repeatedly used to describe Betty by those who knew her for many years or only a short time at the end of her life. She was unfailingly kind and patient. Betty was a loving and devoted wife, mother, mother-in-law, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Cynthia and Ervil (Kip) Kennett; step-grandson Matthew Kennett (Angela Zook); nephew Richard Murphy (Juli); nieces Karen Blair (James), Debra Baska, Sandra Spivey (Steve), and Robyn Sheridan; cousin Bruce Wagner (Carol),

numerous great-nieces and great-nephews. She was predeceased by her beloved sister, Carol Wertz Murphy.

The family is extremely grateful to the entire staff at the Cedars community in Portland who interacted with and cared for Betty for almost 19 years and to the caregivers and visitors from the Hospice of Southern Maine for their kind and reliable support.

If desired, donations in Betty’s memory can be sent to Preble Street (homeless shelter) in Portland, Maine; the Animal Society of Greater Portland; or a charity of one’s choice.

Services will be private. Burial will be in Lake View Cemetery, Quincy, Michigan.