Bailey Mae Eich was kind, compassionate, free-spirited, hardworking, a fighter, loving, positive, graceful, selfless, smart, driven, the life of the party, adventurous, and determined. Bay was gorgeous on the outside but even more gorgeous on the inside. Her parents told me that, since day one, she was stubborn, independent, and sassy. Bailey was friends with everyone, a role model and inspiration for so many. 

Her brother was her best friend. She talked about Levi so much, and any chance she got she would brag about him. A week before she passed, we were hanging out. She told me that she was scared... but not just for herself. She was scared of leaving Levi, her best friend. On one of her last days, she could barely get out words; she said Levi’s name and asked him if HE was okay. He hugged and kissed her and said, “Yes, Bay, I’m okay”, and she got the biggest smile on her face. Bay always would put Levi in front of herself. Bailey was so excited for Levi’s future and the success that he is going to have. She’d always tell me how she was so lucky to have a big brother like Levi. Those two had a sibling bond that is so rare and so special. 

Bay has the best parents in the whole world. Her dad could always cheer her up. I can’t tell you the countless embarrassing Snaps Bay sent me of her dad. When he would leave the hospital room, Bay would tell me how much she loved her daddy. Her dad told me how when Bay was little, he would try to play dolls with her, but she was never into it, and a few minutes later they were outside getting dirty. Jason was the reason Bay had such a great love for the outdoors. 

Bay loved fishing with her family and Ellie, spending time at the lake where she has the best summer with her girls, shooting guns, and hunting. Her favorite season was deer hunting. She loved having her family from out of town come up and hunt every weekend. But her favorite part of the season was always out hunting with her cousin, Dayne, which she did every year. Bay had a green thumb when it came to her succulents and her precious sunflowers. She was a proud mama of her sunflower garden. 

Bay loved going shopping, coffee dates, and sitting on the deck and talking about everything with Mama Eich. Bay was so excited when she got a recipe book with her mom’s recipes for Christmas. Mama Eich was Bay’s comfort. It was evident that Bay got her selflessness and strength from her mama. She also got her well-known sass from her, too. Sheila was Bay's biggest inspiration; she thought of her as the most strong and generous person. Bay always looked to the brighter side of things. She once told me, “Even though having cancer absolutely sucks, I am so thankful that it has brought my family so close together, and I’ve been given so much time with them. It has strengthened our relationship, and I could not be happier.” 

Bay was that one-in-a-million friend. She is someone that I would go to for anything and everything. She always knew the right words to say to me. She was my cheerleader. We never once fought. Not once did she ever make me feel insecure about myself or our friendship. She was/is my biggest inspiration. She encouraged me to be myself. Life would get busy, and we would sometimes go weeks without talking. We always prided ourselves on having a low maintenance friendship, picking up things wherever we left off. Loving her was easy. We had countless sleepovers, watch too many hours of Netflix, ate countless bowls of our signature ice cream (vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup and peanut butter nuked in the microwave for 7 seconds), chased dozens and dozens of sunsets, and stargazed whenever we had the chance. 

A week before Bay passed, we had our last sleepover together. We made that signature ice cream, talked about boys, laughed so much, and had deep conversations. I asked Bay how she was actually feeling. She broke down and told me that she was really scared. She told me that she needed peace and hope. I only knew one thing that would give her what she needed. I asked Bay if she wanted to accept Jesus into her heart. She said, "Yes." I prayed with her, that now she would have that hope and peace that you can’t get from this world, but only from God. After we prayed, she told me, “I am flattered when people call me beautiful and strong, but that’s not what I need right now. This is what I needed.” And Bay received that overwhelming peace and hope that she had been striving to have and got her through the last week with so much grace.

Bay never lived like she had cancer, and it never stopped her from living the best life she could. When she would go through a breakup, have drama with a friend, or have a bad day in the hospital, she would talk to me about it one time, get everything out, and never bring it up again. Even as a kid, when she was sick or got hurt, she would suck it up. 

Through her 2 years of treatments, Bay did not complain and handled it with so much poise. While going through treatments,  she completed her AA degree. I think we all can agree that Bay would have been the best nurse. Bay handled everything with such grace and determination. When I would visit her in the hospital, it was never about her; she was always wanting to know more about you, and if you tried to talk about her, she would quickly change the subject back to you. She was so selfless, even when she was in the midst of the most difficult battle she would ever face. 

No one ever thinks that they will lose their best friend at such a young age. It’s not easy. It’s heartbreaking. But looking out right now and seeing all the people that are here and that were touched by B’s life really shows the positive impact that her light had on this world. I can’t help but smile and be grateful for being able to call someone so amazing my best friend. I would encourage everyone to lean on God during this time. That is the only way that I am getting through this, giving me peace in the heartache. And Bay would tell you the same thing. Once she accepted Jesus into her heart, she was filled with overwhelming peace and hope in the future, in eternity. I can’t wait to dance, travel to the most beautiful places, and hug B again, and spend eternity with my best friend.

We miss you B.

Bailey's Eulogy

i had the honor of writing bay's eulogy. i hope it can give you a glimpse of the amazing person and friend that she was.