Louise Bailey's Final Wish Granted Thanks To Her Son and 'Adopted Son'
Joe Bailey signs a book as Terry Ruscin looks on.
Leigh Wills
Many in Henderson County have come to know and love the writings of Louise Bailey through her books and the weekly column she authored for 42 years in the Times-News. Even though the beloved Bailey is no longer with us, her writing lives on in a new book compiled by her son Joe and her good friend Terry Ruscin.
The two men were at the Henderson County Heritage Museum on Wednesday to sign copies of Historic Henderson County: Tales from Along the Ridges. The newly published work includes some of Bailey's columns along with other work that Bailey left behind on her computer.
Historic Henderson County marks Bailey's 10th book and fulfills her final wish, said Ruscin, who calls himself Bailey's 'adopted son.'
"Louise was probably my very best friend here in Western North Carolina, and I learned a lot from her," Ruscin said in between signing copies of the books. "Louise and I became very close, and working on this book project was actually very bittersweet because I miss her so very much, and I miss the voice and the humor and the comfort and the mother confessor component. I'm proud that Joe and I were able to do this for her because this was one of her last wishes. She had nine books, and this is number ten."
Ruscin said unlike many of Bailey's previous books, this one is illustrated with pictures from Bailey family albums, including photographs of Bailey and her sister, her father and husband. "We have a wonderful picture of her husband on horseback making a house call with his medical bag," he said. "There's a lot of precious photographs like this."
Joe Bailey said his mother in the years prior to her death frequently mentioned to him that she would like to publish another book. After her death last year, Joe wanted to fulfill that wish, so he called Ruscin for his guidance and help. He got much more than that, he joked.
"Just what I hoped would happen happened," Joe laughed. "He just took over. Because of him we have the book today."
Joe said people who read the book will find "stories about local people, about experiences that she had growing up in Henderson County." Bailey and Ruscin said parts of the book are also devoted to the natural wonders of Western North Carolina.
Joe, who has been working on the book with Ruscin since February, is pleased to finally see it in print. He just wishes his mother could be here to enjoy it.
"I think it's great. My mother would be delighted with it," he said. "I think she would be happy with it."
Ruscin said this may not be the final book containing Bailey's stories. A book with tales about Bailey's sister Jennie is something the publisher had expressed an interest in before Bailey passed away at the age of 94. Ruscin said there is also enough material to do a book on nature and historical characters and places in Henderson County.
Ruscin said he plans to finish writing one of his own books before starting another compilation of his dear friend's writings.
"Joe found a wealth of material on his mother's computer," Ruscin said. "Jennie's quite a character. Louise was a character, but the sister was maybe a little bit over the top. The two of them were tomboys, and there are some tales from the youth that are very interesting. It would make a wonderful book."
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