Angie Bay

Angie S. Bay left us too soon Monday, Nov. 13, 2023 at the age of 67.

She was born June 20, 1956 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. She was preceded in death by her parents, Clois O. and Nellie S. Toole, and her brother Michael L. Toole. She is survived by her husband, William R. (Bill) Bay; their three children, Julia (Chris) Nilan of Winnetka, Illinois, Peter (Amy) Bay of St. Louis, Missouri, and Susan (Robert) Joyce of Chicago, Illinois.

She was the beloved grandmother of Charlotte, Caroline, Elizabeth, and Thomas Nilan; Walter and Arthur Bay; and Charles Joyce; dear sister of Patricia (Steven) Boyers of Poplar Bluff, Missouri and James Logan (Marie) Toole of Harviell, Missouri.

She was a beloved sister-in-law, aunt, cousin, and friend to many.

Angie was a devoted wife, mother, homemaker, and volunteer. She was raised on a small family farm in rural Poplar Bluff. There she learned values that served her well throughout her life – hard work, duty, and that no resources or time should go to waste. She graduated from Poplar Bluff High School in 1974, where she was a member of the National Honor Society and editor-in-chief of her yearbook. She was an active member of her family’s church, Memorial Baptist, where she played the piano. She was baptized and married in that church.

Angie attended the University of Missouri-Columbia from 1974-1978 where she studied business and accounting. Angie pursued Christian community through the Baptist Student Union, serving as president during a time of growth and change. It was through the BSU that Angie met her future husband, Bill.

She and Bill were married in 1978. Her three children, Julie, Peter, and Susan, were born in 1983, 1985, and 1991. During this time, she was an active member at Southwest Baptist Church. She taught music and missions to children, was an adult Bible study leader, performed in the handbell choir, and chaired the finance committee. She and Bill regularly opened their home to large groups of friends and their children for food and fellowship. Angie was active in the Missouri Baptist Convention, serving on the Executive Board and the Missouri Baptist Foundation. She also experienced transformative spiritual growth through Bible Study Fellowship, where she served as a discussion leader for over 20 years.

In 1990, Bill and Angie moved the family to Kirkwood, and Angie fell in love with the community. A strong believer in public education, Bill and Angie’s children attended Kirkwood schools K-12. Angie devoted herself to the district, serving its students, families, and staff with her vision, organizational skills, empathy, and warmth. For Angie, no act of service was small or insignificant, and she was faithful as a classroom mother and leader in the PTO. Yet Angie also believed hard work and dedicated leadership could affect lasting change. She took those challenges on, including five years on the budget and advisory committee, chairing a bond campaign, and ultimately being elected to three terms on the school board from 2004-13, serving two years as president. Her proudest achievement during her time on the board was the passage of a bond issue providing a state-of-the-art high school science building with 15 science labs/classrooms. She was also closely involved in its design and construction. The project was considered a model of public/private financial collaboration, and the building at the time was arguably the best public high school science facility in the state of Missouri.

The Kirkwood School District Foundation recognized Angie with a “Gold K Volunteer Award” in 2001. She served six years on the board of the Kirkwood School District Foundation and chaired the popular Turkey Day Chili Bowl in 2001 and 2003.

Angie was active in many other activities, including for the legal community, both in St. Louis and nationally, in support of Bill. She served as silent auction and event chair for the “Justice for All Ball” which raises funds for Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. She was appointed to the board of the St. Louis Bar Foundation and served as co-chair for the 2013 Spirit of Justice award dinner. She was also a familiar and friendly face at meetings of the American Bar Association and was an invaluable resource and partner with Bill as he served in leadership roles.

Throughout her life, Angie and Bill opened their home to any and all friends of their children. Angie prided herself on providing a safe and welcoming space for young people, and rarely a night went by when kids weren’t at the house.

In her empty-nest years, she enjoyed working in her yard. She also served on the board of the Friends of the Kirkwood Library and the Kirkwood Historical Society. She led a Bible study with her good friends and was known for her love, care, faith, knowledge, and organization. Angie

was also the founding member of a book club which she cherished.

Her greatest joy was her seven grandchildren, all under the age of eight. They loved to spend time with “Gogo,” who took them on many adventures yet was also able to create magic out of ordinary things.

She had a servant’s heart and was a genuine and real friend to so many. People were important to her, and she made them feel that way. She listened, cared, and gave freely of herself to all. For her family, she was a spiritual rock. She loved, served, and supported them unconditionally. They were her proudest work.

She and Bill were a wonderful team who complemented each other for 45 years. They were better together, and the relationship was greater than the sum of its parts. She will be greatly missed.

Service details: Visitation at Bopp Chapel (10610 Manchester Road, Kirkwood, MO 63122) from 3-7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30. Funeral at Southwest Baptist Church (6401 Scanlan Ave, St. Louis, MO 63139) on Friday, Dec. 1 at 11 a.m. with visitation at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to two organizations that were near and dear to

Angie’s heart:

1. The Kirkwood School District Foundation’s “Angie Bay Memorial Fund” at https://tinyurl.com/KSDFAngieBay or kirkwoodfoundation.org. To make a gift via mail, send to: Kirkwood School District Foundation, Attn: Angie Bay Memorial, 1099 Milwaukee St., Kirkwood, MO 63122.

2. Bible Study Fellowship (https://www.bsfinternational.org/support/).