Nancy Carolyn Bailey, 87, of Hopkinton, passed away peacefully at her home on April 26th, 2024. Born in Boston, she was the daughter of the late Ruth A. (Taplin) and Paul A. Newsome. She was the wife of 29 years to the late Bruce G. Bailey.
Nancy, and her sister Patricia, grew up together in Needham, Massachusetts. As children, they met a number of actors through her father’s PR firm. She has cherished the memories of meeting Ester Williams, Art Linkletter, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, and the one and only Norman Rockwell, which was a great segway to her art career.
Nancy attended Westbrook College in Maine, Vesper George School of Art in Boston, and Portland School of Fine and Applied Arts. She worked at Rust Craft greeting card company. But her absolute favorite job was freelancing for herself. She was an independent, watercolor artist. And taught art classes from her home. She was one of the original committee members to start the Polyarts in Hopkinton. She was also one of the first volunteers to teach art in the Hopkinton school system.
In 1996 she was commissioned to paint the original, “It all starts here”, the 100th running of the Boston Marathon painting for the Hopkinton Athletic Association. In 1998, she developed the lithograph “Marathon Day” which she is most known for. She was a member of the prestigious New England Watercolor Society, The Rhode Island Watercolor Society, The Cultural Arts Alliance, as well as the Framingham Artist Guild.
Nancy is predeceased by her late sister Patricia Leiby, and nephew Chris Leiby. She is survived by her three children; her son, Jeff Bailey and his wife Dawn, her daughter Kim Bailey, and her daughter Dawn Pillarella and her husband Jay Pillarella. Her beloved grandchildren Samantha Allen, Kelsey Rutkowski, Matthew Bailey, Zachary Bailey, Christina Bailey, Michael Bailey, Grace Bailey, Jacob Coffey, and Kayla Coffey were her heart. She was blessed with four great- grandchildren as well…Jayden, Keith, Connor, and Damian. She was Loved by many nephews Paul, Jonathan, and Benjamin Leiby. As well as her grand-nieces and nephews, Kirstin Leiby, Jenna Leiby, Nicholas Leiby, and Nathan Leiby, all of whom she adored. She spent many Christmas memories with her cousin, Richard McKnight, his wife Sonia, and their daughter Amy McKnight Fazen.
Her heart was clearly full of her beautiful family, and she shared that love with everyone. A whole bushel and a peck.
A celebration of Nancy’s life will take place at a later date to be announced. Arrangements are under the care of the Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton. www.ChesmoreFuneralHome.com
McCarthy McKinney Lawler Funeral Home