BENTONVILLE — Harryetta Shibley Bailey of Bentonville,

Ark. was born Aug. 7, 1934 and died Jan. 27, 2023. She was 88 years old. Harryetta graduated high school at 15. She then attended Little Rock Junior College where she met and fell in love with Early Royall Bailey. They were married July 25, 1954 and remained married until his death on June 12, 2006.

She raised three children before stepping out into the professional work world at Black’s Ladies Wear in Bentonville, Ark. After repeated pleadings by Sam Walton, she went to work for Walmart Stores as an assistant infant and toddlers buyer. She rose to the position of the first female Senior Executive as General Merchandise Manager. She was the first female Vice President to work for Walmart, breaking glass ceilings for women as her career evolved. She provided inspiration and mentorship to many women in management. She was known at Headquarters and by vendors for her intelligence, her integrity, her kindness, and her elegance. She was the first woman to travel internationally as a buyer for Walmart Stores. She once mentioned that the blue jeans she purchased for Walmart would stretch from Bentonville to Beijing. For driving a hard bargain, she was known around the world as the “Velvet Hammer”. But the title she loved most was “Nana”. Harryetta had previously served on the Bentonville School Board and Bentonville City Council and was a driving force in modern Bentonville. She served as President of the Bentonville High School Athletic Booster Club. She was a member of Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO). She served as an Elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Bentonville. She was preceded in death by her parents Luther and Norma Shibley, her brother Luther Shibley Jr., her husband Early Royall Bailey and her grandson, Dustin Cole Erickson. She is survived by her three children Stephen and Teresa Bailey of Bentonville, Ark., Dr. Scott and Leslie Bailey of Fayetteville, Ark., and Lynne Bailey of Delray Beach, Fla. She is also survived by eight grandchildren Dr. Lauren Bailey, Jackson Bailey, Bridgette Pardo, Kate Bailey, Thomas Bailey, Elizabeth Smith, Jennifer Newell, and Christopher Reeves. She had six great grandchildren. Her hobbies included tennis, swimming, and reading. She also loved to play bridge with her friends. She always loved a visit from family and friends. All of her other hobbies centered around her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She was a beautiful, elegant, and graceful woman who touched many hearts and lives. She will be missed. Visitation will be between 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at Callison Lough Funeral Home and then the service at 4 p.m. Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church. Memorial gifts may be made to the Luther C. Shibley Honorary Scholarship Endowment at Arkansas Community Foundation www.arcf.org/shibley (http://www.arcf.org/shibley) or mailed to:

Arkansas Community Foundation, 5 Allied Drive, Suite 51110 Little Rock, Ark. 72202

www.callisonlough.com