Earlene Bailey

Earlene Bailey, 88 of Oskaloosa, passed away Friday, March 17, 2017 at her home after a courageous year long battle with pancreatic cancer. Earlene was born February 10, 1929 in Kansas City, KS, the daughter of Earl and Mary Violet (Noakes) Johnston. She graduated in 1947 from University High School in Lawrence and attended Lawrence Business College. While in high school, Earlene worked in the offices of the Journal World News, so that she could pay for flying lessons. During that time, she was a member of the Civil Air Patrol. Earlene was married to Kenneth E. Bailey, Sr. On March 1, 1948 in Topeka, , and moved to their farm in Oskaloosa, where she helped with farming and cattle operations until their children went to college. One of her proudest moments was when she was given the Farm Bureau National Woman of the Year Award. Earlene later worked 19 years as a bookkeeper for Kaw Valley Grain in Perry and then for an additional 10 years for White Cloud Grain in Lawrence and Topeka. When her children were young, Earlene served as a Cub Scout Den Leader and as a sewing and cooking leader for the local 4H club. In later years, she became an accomplished artist in many mediums with her work in oils and water colors being here favorite. Earlene also enjoyed gardening and quilt making and was a voracious reader. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Lawrence, where she had served as a Stephen Minister and Financial Secretary and was a member of WELCA. Through a ministry at her church, she was involved in making hundreds of charity quilts. She is survived by her husband of 69 years, Kenneth E. “Ken” Bailey, Sr, of the home, two Sons, Kenneth E. Jr. (Carla) Bailey, Dodge City, Tim (Marla) Bailey, Oskaloosa, one daughter, Debbie (John) Vensel, Butler, PA, six grandchildren, seven step-grandchildren, and 10 step-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two brothers and three sisters. Memorial Service will be 11:00 AM, Thursday, March 23 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1245 New Hampshire, Lawrence. Family Visitation will be 5:00 to 8:00 PM, Wednesday at Barnett Family Funeral Home, Oskaloosa. Cremation is planned and inurnment will be at Pleasant View Cemetery, Oskaloosa at a later date. Memorials are suggested to Jefferson County Friends of Hospice or to Trinity Lutheran Church in care of the Funeral Home, P.O. Box 602, Oskaloosa, KS 66066. www.barnettfamilyfh.com Please sign this guestbook at Obituaries. LJWorld.com.