Marvie Dean Midkiff Arnold Baize

Published 12:00 am Friday, October 21, 2011

Marvie Dean Midkiff Arnold Baize, 91, of Owensboro, widow of O.V. Baize and daughter of the late Arnold and Mary (Farmer) Midkiff, died Oct. 19, 2011. Marvie faced Alzheimer’s with grace and dignity. She was born on June 11, 1920, in rural Ohio County and attended a country one-room schoolhouse. Her first jobs were in the tube industry at Ken-Rad and General Electric. During World War II, she joined the WAC, serving in Des Moines, Iowa, Long Beach, Calif., Vermont and India. Traveling became a lifelong passion, reaching all continents except Antarctica. She was an accomplished artist, focusing on needlework arts, including clothing design and oil and china painting. Congregations of many Ohio County Baptist churches continue to enjoy her baptistery scenes. She was the owner of Mrs. Baize Monogramming. Marvie and her late husband, O.V., were members of local square dance clubs. She was a member of the Widowed Persons Group and Owensboro Art Guild. She loved bowling, card games, baking pies and cakes and making homemade ice cream. She was a member of Bellevue Baptist Church. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Herman Midkiff, former husband, Leo Latham Arnold, and a son, O.V. Baize Jr.

She leaves behind to celebrate her life daughters, Gail Arnold Tine (Paul) of Rocky Hill, Conn., and Jane Baize Townsend Smith (Robert) of Owensboro; her son, Mark Alan Baize (Darlene Spurrier) of Florida; grandchildren, Landy Townsend of Wake Forest, N.C., Laurie Townsend Idlett of Bowling Green, Phelicia and Aaron Baize of Kissimmee, Fla., Natalie Tine of Philadelphia and Vel Baize of Owensboro; a stepgrandchild, Debbie Hill (Dave) of Louisville; nine great-grandchildren; sisters-in law, Wanda Russell Midkiff of Dawson Springs, Ruth Baize Beatty of Olaton and Evelyn Baize Basham of Dayton, Ohio; nephews, Mike, Steve, Brent and Tim Midkiff, who fondly called her “Aunt Bob;” many cousins, especially Valada Ezell Hammock of Murfreesboro, Tenn.

The family would like to thank the staff of Wellington Parc, the nursing staff of Hospice and the Kind Hearts Program of Bellevue Baptist Church, especially Jim and Janet Dillard.

Services are at 10 a.m. Monday at the Chapel of James H. Davis Funeral Home & Crematory in Owensboro. Burial will follow in Sunnyside Cemetery in Beaver Dam. Visitation is from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday and after 9 a.m. Monday at the funeral home.

An art scholarship at Ohio County High School has been established in her memory.

Donations may be sent to the Marvie Baize Art Scholarship Fund, Ohio County High School, 1400 S. Main St., Hartford KY 42347, or to Hospice of Western Kentucky, 3419 Wathens Crossing, Owensboro KY 42301.

Online messages of condolence may be made at www.davis funeralhome.com.