Murphy If you’ve been in town for any length of time, you’ve most likely run into Elo-Ly and Corey Bailey. Elo-Ly is originally from Austria, while Corey hails from Ohio.
The Baileys have been married for 39 years, moving from Miami to Murphy in 2004, and do most everything together. They are not just involved in the community; they are fully involved.
Bailey previously owned an Allstate Agency as well as co-owned the Pilot House restaurant in the Florida Keys. Elo-Ly worked in risk management for both Burdines and the University of Miami-Medical School.
In 2004, the pair became involved with Master Gardeners. They still help with all the fall displays around the holidays as well as school projects and other activities. They also help folks with gardening in the community.
Between the two, they have four “green thumbs.” They have earned 15-year pins and have invested more than 1,000 hours each of their time with the program.
From 2007-19, they were very involved with Friends of the Murphy Public Library and were instrumental in getting the genealogy room put in. If anyone wants to research their genealogy, they have a place to do so. They have helped raise money to get books, including audio books, for the library as well as serving on the board for many years.
They earned a Community Service Award in 2010-11, voted by the Miami Lakes Board of Realtors. The Valley River Humane Society has been another love of theirs, and they have spent much time helping raise money for the animals.
The Baileys were both on the board of the Cherokee County Arts Council and active from 2015-21, helping receive funding from Murphy and Cherokee County. Corey also served as president the last couple of years.
If you enjoy walking or hiking along Piney Knob Trail, the Baileys helped secure funding through grants for this as well as a river canoe trial while working with the N.C. Step Program.
If you enjoy the scenic tour books and walking along the River Walk, thanks in part goes to the Baileys for helping find funding for these projects through Heritage Partners. They were also board members and are still active with the program.
As if their calendars aren’t busy enough, the pair recently became Ambassadors for the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce and enjoy things like setting up meet and greets and doing ribbon-cutting ceremonies.
“We love our children, our pets, the community and our beautiful garden,” Elo-Ly said with her familiar smile.
The Baileys are human parents to eight adoring cats. They have a daughter living in Marietta, Ga., and three grandchildren.
Corey enjoys golf, while Elo-Ly loves traveling, family and reading. As busy as they both are, they always make the time to stop and talk with folks in the community.