May 17, 1937 - February 1, 2025

Marcia Joan Bailey, known to her closest friends as Mickey, age 87, passed away on February 1st, at her home in Plymouth, MA with her family by her side. Marcia was born May 17, 1937 in Rochester, New York, the daughter of Clarence and Charlotte (Sutphen) Vanderbrook. She was raised in Newark NY, attended Newark High School and graduated in 1955 excelling in academics and sports. She also participated in Sports Council, Class Plays, Chorus, and Cheerleading. After high school, she attended Nazareth College, where she graduated with her B.A. in Sociology. During her college years, she would frequently sneak away to spend the weekends with her boyfriend Fritz at Syracuse University. She loved her time with Fritz at his fraternity house and attending Syracuse football games, but it was Fritz, who fell in love with her knowing she could change a flat tire even while wearing a beautiful, yellow dress.

In 1959 she graduated college and married the love of her life Frederic “Fritz” Bailey, also of Newark NY, and they started their new life together in Little Rock AR. They quickly moved to New England, spending a few years in Watertown MA, and eventually settling with their four children in Needham, MA. They spent many happy years on Sunnyside Road, across the street from Cricket Field, where Marcia’s athletic skills brought joy and inspiration to many in the neighborhood. There was not a summer evening that went by without Marcia pitching and hitting baseballs to all the kids on the block.

In 1978, Marcia moved with Fritz and family to Plymouth, MA, where they settled into their forever home. Marcia started work at a floating tourist trap next to the Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor. There the tacky knick knacks and pirate themed souvenirs began finding their way from the waterfront to Soule Road. After her stint selling souvenirs, she finally expanded her personal bookkeeping business. It was her love of numbers that led her to H&R Block, helping countless others navigate the ever changing rules of the IRS.

She really enjoyed her time with family and friends, but she absolutely loved the game of golf. This past January, Marcia became an honorary member of the Plymouth Country Club, celebrating 40 consecutive years of membership. She shared many special memories with all of her children, grandchildren, and friends at PCC. She especially cherished her Hole in One on 8, and her time with the “DECKIES”.

For decades, Marcia was the cook for the family despite not loving it, as evidenced by her infamous "Pot of Death" Crock Pot creations. Her kids may not have loved the Crock Pot, but she loved having her family and friends gathering in her home, especially over the Thanksgiving Holiday. After 25 years of adventurous meal plans, Marcia made the executive decision to quit cooking and pass the baton to Fritz.

A lifelong sports fan, Marcia faithfully rooted for the Red Sox, Celtics, Patriots, Syracuse Orangemen, and recently the Penn State Nittany Lions. If it wasn’t Jeopardy on TV, it was a sporting event. She was thrilled when the college games of her grandchildren Jeffrey and Erik could be live streamed on her Samsung. Her grandchildren were her greatest joy and she was the doting grandmother. She cherished their visits, face-times, and phone calls as they shared stories about their lives. She always had a card on hand to reward them for a job well done. She made every effort to attend their events in person whenever she could. She never missed a game, unless she had a tee time.

She also loved reading, and the Plymouth Public Library. The library loved her business. Little did they know she was burning those books on tape in her basement office onto CD-R’s she bought at the dollar store. If it wasn’t a book on tape, it was Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, or Waylon Jennings. She would listen to those pirated CD’s while driving, working around the house, or tossing and turning on those hot summer nights when there wasn’t an ocean breeze to help her fall asleep.

Marcia is predeceased by her husband Fritz and survived by son Frederic Michael Bailey and wife Karen of Northborough, MA,  daughter Kristen Madden and husband Russell of Tuftonboro, NH, son Steven Bailey and wife Teresa of Plymouth, MA and son Jon Bailey and wife Sheryl of Woodland Hills, CA. She is also survived by her grandchildren Jeffrey and Erik Madden, Jocelyn, Wade, and Charlotte Bailey, and Jacob and Shaylyn Bailey. Beloved sister to Julie Vanderbrook, Karen Vanderbrook, and Rita Weiler and husband Jim of Newark, NY, as well as favorite aunt and great aunt to many nieces and nephews.

Please join us in honoring Marcia between the hours of 11:00 am and 1:00 pm at Bartlett Funeral Home, 338 Court Street Plymouth MA, on Friday, February 7th.

To honor her love of reading and to pay back all those pirated CD’s, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:

Plymouth Public Library

132 South Street

Plymouth, MA 02360

 Or 

Support the Library – Plymouth Public Library Foundation