The life of Avis Bailey Cosby: Avis Norvell Bailey was born on April 29, in the year of 1929.

As the eighth child, she brought so much joy to her family but they decided to wait after her birth to name her so that her Aunt Thelma Bailey could do the honors when she came from  California to visit the new arrival.

For several months, Avis did not have a name, so the family called her “Dymples”! This is a nickname that followed her all through her life, even though in her own words, she said that she “didn’t really like it. “

While there was great joy in this large family, economic times were difficult with the Great Depression occurring only six months later the following October.

Avis’ mother Bonnie had 11 children. Bonnie was a former music teacher in Mississippi who met her husband Floyd while playing piano at a church in Kent, Oklahoma while visiting relatives there. After Floyd met her, he returned to the Vanoss, Oklahoma area and said, “I met the girl I am going to marry”.  Floyd was the son of  Richard Hale Bailey, whom family members recall as a former Texas Ranger.

Floyd provided for their large family by farming peanuts and entrepreneurship later including sorghum production for the Vanoss, Oklahoma area. Avis’s 10 siblings in order were Marie, Rogenia, Sybil, Joe, Mozelle, Faye, Gene, Avis was next, then Jerry, Violet and Tony. All family members had a part in providing for the family by working on the farm, or at other jobs they could acquire.

Times were hard, so at age 3, her father, Floyd Bailey and mother, Bonnie Bailey, itinerant farmers, packed up their family and travel to California to find work by way of a homemade camper built by Floyd.

After a time of working in the California fields for a year, they returned to Oklahoma.

Avis attended grade school at Galey and then Vanoss High School. (Pictures) Avis loved her school and teachers and shared many stories about these early days.

There were many fun times as the Bailey home was known for a place where music was made after a long day’s work. Floyd played the violin, Bonnie, the piano, Mom the guitar and other siblings also played instruments and sang. In their community, lots of visitors would come to play music. They hosted lots of country parties. One day, they received a Victrola record player when a peddler’s wagon broke down in front of their home and Floyd purchased the Victrola for his home. Avis told us that her older siblings would invite friends over and hold dances in their home with the new fancy Victrola!

Avis shared that she took a trip in her teens with her sister Marie and husband Claude Drake to visit Bonnie’s family in Prentiss, Mississippi. She made fast friends with her cousins, aunts and uncles there.

Avis’ best friend in high school was Ruby Gray. Little did she know that Ruby was a cousin of her soon to be husband, Jimmie Mack Cosby. Ruby Gray was Avis’ life long friend.

For a while, she and her friend Ruby Gray both worked at John A. Brown’s department store in Oklahoma City. They developed an interest in fashion, music, and movies!

Later Avis shared ownership of a Cafe in Stratford, Oklahoma with her sister Rogenia. She met Jimmie Mack Cosby at a rodeo there in Stratford.  He also bought a lot of hamburgers at her cafe!

One of the last children to live at home, Avis took care of her parents when they became ill.

There was sorrow in the family when Floyd and Bonnie passed within years of each other.

Avis then married Jimmie Mack Cosby on September 25, 1956. Jimmie Mack Cosby joined Tinker Air Force Base after serving in the Korean War.

They invited her little brother Tony, to move in with them. He also lived part of the time with his older brother Jerry Bailey’s family. He graduated from Del City High School. Tony was a beloved member of the Cosby family his whole life.

Tony became an avid musician and also began working at Tinker Air Force Base. Tony married Darlene Murray in 1962.

During this time Avis and Jimmie had their first daughter, Kathy, on August 17, 1958. Jimmy Mark was born July 10, 1960, and Ramona Kay was born on April 18, 1962. Tony and Darlene added to their family with Bonnie, Liz and Alan.

At the age of 33, Avis and Jim decided to get involved in their local church. Kathy remembers the day that both of her parents were baptized.

Their family life consisted of work, attending school and church, and going to lots of sports events. Avis played guitar and taught the three children to sing in 3-part harmony when they were ages 4, 6 & 8. Very soon they began singing together at church with their Mom playing guitar accompaniment.

As the children grew up, music lessons, sports, and church camps kept everyone busy. Every year Jim would plan a 2-week vacation to a historical city in America. Lots of great memories were made on these trips to almost every state except Hawaii and Alaska. For a short time, the Cosby family lived in Pennsylvania for Jim’s work. It was a great adventure!

Returning back to Oklahoma after 9 months away, it was great to be back and out of the snow!  They plugged back into their church – which gave the family a place to share their musical gifts from the Lord, play on church ball teams, and develop great friends and lasting relationships.

Avis pursued a new career with the Oklahoma State Labor Department. She enjoyed her colleagues, the travel and the interesting work.

The Cosby’s kept in touch with their relatives, and attended many family reunions during this time.

After moving from Oklahoma City to Moore, the Cosby kids attended school at Moore ISD.

The family became members of Southern Oaks Free Will Baptist Church.  They had many wonderful friends at the church and were early supporters of Hillsdale Bible College, now Randall University.

After the kids were married, Avis focused on her culinary hobbies and started making a few special dishes like lemon nut bread that were given as gifts. She also loved to plant flowers in her garden.  She and Jim continued to travel, attending many of their grandchildren’s events. A few memorable events include a Frank Sinatra concert in Oklahoma City, and a visit to Elvis’ Graceland in Nashville, Tennessee.

Although during this time it was sad that several of Avis’ siblings passed away, she always focused on the future and never seemed to let the sadness of the past to allow her to become bitter or critical.

Her quick wit and funny comebacks were legendary, along with her many entertaining Facebook posts, which she continued into her 90’s!

During the last chapters of Avis life, after Jim passed away, she also lost her daughter Mona, and granddaughter Kelly.

Avis decided to move to Kansas City to be nearer to Mark and Jimmie Marie.

Here Avis made a whole new group of friends and became the unofficial grandmother to many. She supported the Kelly Way Foundation walks for Melanoma awareness. She was able to attend and dance at Clay and Micah’s wedding. She said this was “one of the best days of her life!”

Avis continued to travel via plane to Texas to visit David, Kathy, Kent and Kale whenever she was able even this last year when she turned 95.

Avis suffered a stroke on August 15, 2024 while enjoying a bowl of ice cream – enjoying life to the fullest.

During her stay at the skilled nursing facility she continued to light up the room with love, intent on making others feel lifted up, and never complaining about her circumstances. In fact, she often spoke of how “blessed and lucky” she was, even throughout her physical challenges.

She enjoyed her last few months with the wonderful nurses and staff at the Healthcare Resort of Leawood, Kansas.

A life truly well lived.