Ronald E. Bailey

Ronald E. Bailey, 85, of Phoenix, Ariz., formerly of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Thursday, Jan. 25, 2007. He was born Nov. 10, 1921, in Crestline, Kan., the son of George M. and Otha Lyerla Bailey. He married Margaret Jacobs on Sept. 25, 1943, in Quantico, Va. She preceded him in death Nov. 27, 2003.

He earned his BS and MS in business education from Pittsburg State University. He was a first Lieutenant in the Marine Corps during World War II and saw action in the Pacific with an amphibian tractor division. He retired from the Western Insurance Company in 1984 where he had been an underwriter for 34 years.

Survivors include two daughters, Sandra K. Steitz, Kansas City, Mo., and Beverly A. Wright, Grove, Okla.; one son, Ronald E. Bailey II, Phoenix; three sisters, Lucille Lucas, Albuquerque, N.M., Louwanda Miller, Sun Lakes, Ariz., and Darlene Presley, Lake Park, Fla.; six grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

The Rev. Shanna K. Steitz, granddaughter-in-law of Mr. Bailey will conduct funeral services 10 a.m., Monday, Jan. 29, at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. Burial will be at the Evergreen Cemetery.

Memorial contributions are recommended to the First Christian Church, Fort Scott, and may be left in care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, Fort Scott, Kansas, 66701.

Expressions of sympathy may be emailed to expressions@konantz-cheney.com.