Elizabeth Bailey, with daughter Ruby, 6, and fiancé Cody Muchmore before tragic accident. Courtesy photo
By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com
A tragic accident occurred at approximately 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, in which Los Alamos resident Elizabeth Bailey was severely injured and her fiancé Cody Muchmore lost his life.
The couple were finishing up moving in together and meeting with a realtor. While traveling southbound on US 550 at mile marker 22, just south of San Ysidro, a red Kia heading north crossed the yellow line and impacted Cody’s and Elizabeth’s vehicle head-on. Cody died at the scene just three days before his 28th birthday.
Elizabeth, 27, continues to recover from her severe injuries and has required an extended hospitalization. Her father Nathan Bailey told the Los Alamos Daily Post that Elizabeth grew up in Los Alamos. She attended Mountain Elementary School, Los Alamos Middle School and graduated in 2011 from Los Alamos High School. During high school, Elizabeth, or “Libby” as her family and friends call her, worked at CB Fox as a sales associate.
“After attending college at Central New Mexico Community College, Elizabeth moved back to her hometown and took a job with Enterprise Bank & Trust (formerly Los Alamos National Bank),” Nathan said. “Over the last five years, she has held several positions at the bank, most recently serving as an AVP Private Banker.”
Elizabeth has served on several community boards, he said. She was the Bradbury Science Museum Association treasurer and has served on the committee for Enterprise Bank’s United Way campaign for the last four years. Elizabeth also chairs the Enterprise Bank committee that raises money to assist local families in need during the holidays, and she is a 2020 graduate of Leadership Los Alamos.
“Cody was born Nov. 17, 1992 in Cheyenne, Wyo. to Mike and Colleen Muchmore,” Nathan said. “Growing up in Cheyenne, he participated in soccer and baseball for many seasons, and as a teen worked as a “trap kid” at the Cheyenne Trap Club. He attended Dildine Elementary, Carey Jr. High and graduated from the East High IB program in 2011. He was a smart and curious child from the time he was small.”
His family thought he would become an engineer as he was always interested in how things worked. Cody did just that, graduating from Idaho State University in 2016 with two bachelor’s degrees in Nuclear Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, Nathan said. He went on to complete a master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering in 2018. He was employed as a Nuclear Safety Engineer at Los Alamos National Laboratory at the time of his death.
“There have been inquiries about Elizabeth’s young daughter Ruby, 6, and as with most little girls, she has shown tremendous resilience,” Nathan said. “She is staying with her grandmother in Albuquerque and doing well.”
Nathan said that Elizabeth wants to thank everyone who has sent cards and continue to send cards along with words of encouragement during her hospital stay. Reading them has lifted her spirits during this difficult time.
“Elizabeth and our family also would like to thank Enterprise Bank & Trust, specifically the senior management team and the human resources department,” Nathan said. “They have gone above and beyond the call to support Elizabeth and Ruby through this challenging time. We have all heard employers say they treat their employees like family; we are grateful that Elizabeth works for a genuinely caring company. We will be forever grateful.”
Additionally, the employees of the Los Alamos branch of Enterprise Bank and Trust have been incredibly supportive, sending cards, covering Elizabeth’s job duties with her clients, and starting a fundraiser for Elizabeth and Ruby, Nathan said.
“Elizabeth feels so blessed to have so many people step up and help her during her absence,” he said. “Anyone in the community can contribute to the fundraiser set up to help cover medical expenses for Elizabeth. Just stop by any Enterprise Bank branch and tell them that you want to donate to the “Friends of Elizabeth” account.”
Nathan added, “Elizabeth and our family cannot thank Enterprise Bank & Trust and the Los Alamos community enough for embracing Elizabeth and Ruby with so much love and prayer. They feel truly blessed and want to wish everyone a safe and Merry Christmas.”
