People who visited Farmer's Bank and Trust in Camden, Arkansas, during the years Nora Bailey worked there took joy in encountering her bright, friendly smile and stylish appearance. Many of the bank's customers sought her out to help with their needs because they appreciated her kindness, grace, and peaceful demeanor. Those that knew and loved her will always remember the way she exhibited those same qualities. After a four-year struggle with dementia, Nora Lea Taylor Bailey, of Camden, Arkansas, died on November 10, 2023, at the age of 77.

Nora Lea Taylor was born in Bastrop, Louisiana, in 1946 to Garnie and Vera Boyt Taylor. She was the youngest of five siblings, three brothers and one sister: G.W., Claude, Louetta and Dan. As a pretty, petite, toe-headed baby of the family she was doted upon and got her way often. She was mostly quiet and shy but enjoyed playing in the ditches and creeks around their home and running around with the family's cats and dogs. Though she was mostly quiet and reserved, made friends easily at school with her magnetic smile and amenable temperament.

In 1957, her father took a job at the International Paper Company's bag mill in Camden and the family moved to the Elliott community south of Camden. Nora quickly embraced her new life in south Arkansas and took great pride in being a Fairview Cardinal. When she wasn't at school or playing with her siblings and friends, she was often at Elliott Baptist Church learning to walk in the footsteps of her savior.

The skinny, pretty, bright-eyed girl caught the eye of Joe Bailey when she was a junior and he was a senior in high school. After a rocky start with Dude, Nora's German Shepherd and Princess, her mean Siamese cat, Joe won them all over and the two began dating and spending a lot of time together. So much time that their mothers conferred and decided it was time the two got married. It wasn't hard to convince the two love birds and Joe and Nora were married at the church in Elliott on a hot July 31st, in 1965.

Nora embraced family life, working to make ends meet, attending Sunday school and church at Cullendale First Baptist, making Joe's lunch to take to his job at the IPCO paper mill, camping, fishing, and making house. Within three-and-a-half years of marriage she became a mother to Joey, their first of two sons, and three years later, little Jason was born.

She was a loving and supportive wife and mother and spent many, many hours cheering for all of their sporting and outdoor pursuits. After being a stay-at-home mom for about seven years she went to work in banking, first in El Dorado at First Federal, then in Camden at Heartland Bank, which became Farmer's in 2004. She loved helping the bank's customers and loved dressing up for work. There wasn't a day that Nora wasn't clean, dressed and manicured to-the-nines for her workday. She embraced her role, and the bank's role, as a vital part of the Camden business community and volunteered regularly at the Daffodil Festival and other events. One of her proudest moments was winning the Daffodil Festival baking contest with her delectable banana nut bread.

More than anything, Nora loved spending time with her family. She will be missed tremendously but her family takes comfort in knowing she is now cradled in the arms of God. She is survived by husband, Joe, sons, Joey (Colleen) and Jason (Jennifer) along with Joey's son Max and daughter Annabeth, and Jason's two sons Jack and Jayme, her brothers, G.W. (Polly) and Dan, and her sister Louetta Alexander. She is preceded in death by her parents, Garnie and Vera Taylor, and her brother Claude.

A memorial service will be 1:00PM Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at Cullendale First Baptist Church. Proctor Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.