NEW PALESTINE
Iella Laura (Ruley) Bayless, age 98, of New Palestine, died peacefully at home, surrounded by family on February 27, 2022. Mrs. Bayless was born April 2, 1923 in Mining City, Kentucky, Butler County, to the late Bo Alpheus and Virginia Dixie (Childress) Ruley.
She moved to Vincennes, Indiana at the age of 4 and also lived in Sullivan County and attended Pleasantville High School. Later, she moved to Indianapolis and graduated from Shortridge High School in 1941.
She professed faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior at 31st Street Baptist Church. At the time of her death, she was a member of Burge Terrace Baptist Church in Indianapolis.
She worked as a secretary for many years at several different organizations, State Life Insurance, RCA, Eli Lilly, Chapelwood Baptist Church, Indianapolis Public Schools, IUPUI, and the Indiana Sports Corporation.
Iella is survived by her three children, Kenneth Bayless (Lauri) of Seneca, SC, Bob Bayless (Karen) of Indianapolis, and Kathryn Taylor (Jon) of Greenfield; grandchildren, Kathryn Gatliff (Michael), Rachel Langlois (Curtis), Sophia Taylor, Hannah Taylor and David Bayless; and great-grandchild, Cassian Langlois. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth M. Bayless; parents, Bo and Virginia Ruley; daughter, Susan Bayless; son, Thomas Bayless; brother, Robert Ruley; and sisters, Dorsie Betner and Frances Jones.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 5, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at Erlewein Mortuary &Crematory, 1484 W. US Hwy. 40, Greenfield, IN 46140. A funeral service will begin at noon, with Pastor Todd Curtis officiating. Entombment will follow at Washington Park East Cemetery in Indianapolis.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made by mail or online to the Burge Terrace Baptist Church Building Fund, 9345 Brookville Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46239, or envelopes will be available at the mortuary. Friends may share a memory or condolence at www.erleweinmortuary.com.
Iella’s family wishes to thank Suburban Home Health and Hospice for the compassionate care shown over the last eight months.
