Mary Ellen Cleveland Fertsch, 87, of Hallettsville, passed away Monday, June 20, 2016. She was born on June 18, 1929 to Andrew P. & Ida Lou Bilderback Cleveland in Mission, TX, the baby sister to two brothers. She taught herself to type, by copying a keyboard on paper, and at 16 years old started working for the railroad.

Mary married Samuel Louis Bayliss in 1947, three children were born in this union; George, Karen and David Bayliss. After a divorce, she took LVN training in Ganado, and then moved to Houston, again working at the railroad.

Mary met and married Elroy O. Fertsch on August 12, 1961 in Rosenberg. She left the railroad and held jobs as a traffic manager at Suniland, executive secretary for a traffic manager at a petroleum company, and a couple of other companies before returning to the railroad. In 1977, the railroad transferred them to St. Louis MO, until Elroy retired in 1989. During their time in Missouri, they started a horse business, with granddaughter showing horses all over Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky and Illinois. They moved back to Texas in 1990.

Mary became an active member with the Home Extension, American Legion Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary, Garden Club, and church choir at St. Peter Lutheran Church of Hallettsville. She served as Kolache Queen in 1999. She enjoyed her years as the representative for the exchange student program, hosting and placing foreign exchange students for 7 years. She volunteered to entertain, by playing her spoons & singing, at the nursing homes.

Mary is survived by: son George Bayliss & wife Sandra of Hallettsville; daughter Karen Bock of Willis, TX; 6 grandchildren, granddaughter Erika Crider & husband Joey; grandsons Bruce Bayliss & girlfriend Amy, Brian Bayliss & wife Beth, Brent Bayliss & wife Amber, Carl Barroso Jr. & wife Melissa, and Chris Barroso & girlfriend Jeanna; 8 great grandchildren; Tory & Kyle Barroso, Cole Crider, Austin, Trevor & Braelyn Bayliss, Reid Banks & Makinley Harvell; dog Rascal; and nieces & nephews and many friends.

Mary was preceded in death by: her husband Elroy of 53 years; son David Lee Bayliss; parents; and 2 brothers, James Paul (Jimmy) Cleveland and Robert Carl (Bob) Cleveland.

Funeral Service: 10 am, Saturday, June 25, 2016, at St. Peter Lutheran Church of Hallettsville. Visitation: 5 pm, Friday, at Kubena Funeral Home; with a Pray Service at 7 pm. Officiant: Rev. Ray Hagan. Pallbearers: Bruce Bayliss, Brian Bayliss, Brent Bayliss, Trevor Bayliss, Chris Barroso, and Carl Barroso. Burial: Old Kinkler Cemetery. Memorials: St. Peter Lutheran Church or Hospice of South Texas.