Ella Vera Bayer

Ella Vera Bayer passed away on Saturday, November 5, 2005 at her home surrounded by her family. She was born in Bonne Terre, MO to Bertha Maude and Clyde Richard McClain. Mrs. Bayer came to Warner Robins in September of 1946 with her husband Ed Bayer and infant daughter, Cheryl. She was a beautician by trade as well as a chorus line dancer at the famous Muni Opera in St. Louis. She continued her trade as a beautician at a local beauty shop on Commercial Circle. When her husband decided to open his own business on Watson Boulevard and First Street, she left the beauty business for the building supply business and together, they started Warner Robins Supply Company. Two other children came along; Mark (“Sandy”) and Christine. When the tornado hit town in 1953, Ed and Vera were volunteers to help during this local disaster. She was very involved in the community especially in the Women’s Club which brought a professional director into town for several years in a row to create the Woman’s Club Follies- an exciting dance and comedy spectacular for the fledgling town of Warner Robins. She was a charter member of the Warner Robins League of Women Voters and one of the founders of the Warner Robins Little Theatre. She was an accomplished seamstress, creating fashions for herself and her children as well as many costumes for every occasion. She created marionettes to entertain children’s groups. For several years she wrote humorous articles based on her life with three active children for the weekly “Sun” newspaper. During the late 50’s and early 60’s she choreographed and directed the entertainment portion of the Westside Elementary School’s 6th grade graduation program. Many of the girls she worked with at that time later called on her to help them with their “talent” portion of the Miss Warner Robins, Miss WRHS, and/or Miss NHS pageants. After her husband of almost fifty years passed away in 1991, she organized a troupe of senior citizen ladies to perform a Senior Citizen’s Talent Show. They continued on afterwards as the popular “Robins Rockets.” She choreographed as well as performed tap, soft shoe, and jazz numbers which have pleased audiences from the Cherry Blossom Festival to nursing homes throughout Georgia. Her passions also included art, antiques, pets, and fashion. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. She will be deeply missed by her three children, Cheryl (Jim) Taylor, Mark (Linda) Bayer, and Christine Bayer, her sister, June Sturgis, and her four granddaughters, Brandy Bayer (Andy Linnenkohl), Sunny (Jeremy) Knighton, Claire Taylor, and Ivy Taylor, as well as her faithful companion pets, Topper, Gibby, Zeus, Carrot, and Jolie.

Mrs. Bayer’s services will be held on Tuesday, November 8, 2005 at 3:30 p.m. in the chapel of McCullough Funeral Home with entombment following at Magnolia Park Mausoleum. Visitation will be on Monday, November 7, 2005 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. If you would prefer to show your respect by making a donation in her name to your favorite charity, please do so.

Funeral Home:
McCullough Funeral Home
417 S. Houston Lake Rd.
Warner Robins, GA
US 31088