Linda Sue (Preston) Bailey was born in Blue Ridge, Texas on September 3, 1940 to Bonnie White and Milton Browning. Milton was not around to see his daughter being born and grow up. However, God provided for my mother and grandmother. In 1945, shortly after returning home from the Philippines at the end of WWII, Weldon Preston of Blue Ridge, Texas married my grandmother, Bonnie and in 1946 he officially adopted my mother as his own. So, in 1946 she became Linda Sue Preston. Throughout her life she was known as mother, Linda Sue, and Mammaw. I think she cherished the Mammaw title the most and her eleven grandkids and eleven great grandkids would agree. She married Tommy Bailey of Prosper, Texas at Verona Baptist Church in Verona, Texas on October 19th, 1962 and they were married 56 years until his death on March 10, 2019.
Linda passed away peacefully into the waiting arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on the night of January 26, 2026. I guarantee you she was worshipping Jesus immediately upon her entrance into heaven’s gates. She is survived by her son, Scott Bailey and his wife, Dana of Prosper and their eleven kids and families: Ashley Garcia and husband, Johnny of Howe; Sarah Bullock and husband, Craig and their kids, Kaori and Ollie of Utah; Joshua Bailey and his wife, Chelsi and their kids, Brody, Airynn, Harper, Hayes, and Phoenix of Palmer; Morgan Burchfiel and her husband, Justin of Connecticut; Collin Bailey and his wife, Maddie of Oklahoma and their kids, Finley, Thomas, Piper, and Willow; Austin Bailey of Pilot Point; Benjamin Bailey of Pilot Point; Zachary Bailey and wife, Isabelle of Little Elm; Gracie Bailey of Prosper; Samuel Bailey of Prosper; Charlie Bailey of Prosper; and one sister, Veleta Gilbert of McKinney. Also, many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Tommy Bailey; parents, Weldon and Bonnie Preston; her biological father, Milton Browning; a half-brother and brother- in-law, Buddy Gilbert.
If we could sum up Linda’s extraordinary life in one sentence would be “God was most glorified by Linda when she was most satisfied in Him.”
A simple graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, January 30th, 2026 at Ridgeview Memorial Park, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas 75013.
A memorial service is set for 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Prosper, Saturday, February 21, 2026. Visitation with the family is welcome between 1-2:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to First Baptist Church of Prosper Women’s Ministry in her memory.