Daughter of William Henry Kimball & Mary Miriam Davenport. 1910 census gives Sep 1858 as date of birth. Teacher in Pendleton grade schools from 1896 to 1927, when she retired. Married John M Hailey, Jr.
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Pioneer Trails, Vol 8, No 2, Umatilla County Historical Society, Pendleton, 1984
"TEACHER PRACTICES PHILOSOPHY, By Mildred E. Allison
Mrs. Paralee Hailey was a teacher in Pendleton grade schools beginning in 1896 until her retirement in 1927. As a teacher her philosophy was: 'if you give to the world the best you have, the best will come back to you', and that was certainly an indication of the fine character of this pioneer teacher. Many older Pendleton residents will remember her when she taught at the original Lincoln school prior to retirement.
Her earlier teaching days had been in the episcopal schools of Salt Lake and Boise. She applied for a position in Pendleton vacated by Miss Neva Lane, an early kindergarten teacher who previously had a private school in her mother's home on College Street (which is now S.E. 4th). However, by Sept. 1896, the number of pupils had outgrown the accommodation of Miss Lane's kindergarten space. So the Bruce Building, where the Domestic Laundry was located, and Guerney Walters Service Station is now located, was rented.
Two rooms were fitted with tables and chairs. Miss Rhoda John, a granddaughter of Mrs. Aura Raley, was hired to teach with Mrs. Hailey. They each taught mixed first and second grades. Their salary was 45 dollars a school month. Mrs. Hailey's great sense of humor was shown by this remark: 'What a blessing that we were not obliged to purchase silk stockings.'
They both continued teaching in the Bruce Building for two years, but in 1898, the old Field School on Alta Street (now S.W. Dorion) was opened. Part of Helen McCune Junior High stands on this location. In Field School, only four of the lower grades were taught.
Mrs. Hailey took a leave of absence from 1900 to 1911 but did supply teaching, as she termed it, during that time. In 1912, she taught at Washington School. During the period from 1912 to 1927, she had lower grades at Lincoln School.
When she was not employed as a regular teacher her supply teaching took her for a day, a week or longer into all of the different elementary grades.
Upon her retirement, parents and friends feted her and presented her with a beautiful gift to show their love and esteem for her. She exemplified her teaching philosophy to the fullest degree."