John Kenneth Bailey

John Kenneth Bailey, 79, of Springfield, died at 10:32 p.m. on Friday, January 30, 2009 at St. John's Hospital. Ken was born May 10, 1929 in Springfield, the son of George D. and Loreine W. Smith Bailey. He married Beverly Baumann on November 29, 1974 in Hannibal, MO. Prior to his military service, Ken attended Springfield High School and was a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Agriculture at Urbana in 1953. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving in the Veterinary Corp. as a food inspector during the Korean War from 1953 1955. Following his military service, Ken worked as a 4-H Club youth advisor and assistant farm Advisor in Will and Jasper Counties and resided in Joliet and then Newton, IL. While living in Newton, he was an active member and past president of the Kiwanis Club. He also was a member of Newton Lodge #216 Masons. Later he became District Sales manager with Phister Associated Growers and Lowe's Seed Company. He later joined the City of Springfield Comptroller's Office serving sixteen years and retiring in 1996. Ken was a sports fan; the Chicago Cubs and the Illini were his favorite teams. He was also a diehard Democrat and was very interested in history and politics. Ken had great artistic abilities and enjoyed playing the banjo and singing to his grandchildren as well as coin collecting. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, George Wayne Bailey. He is survived by his wife Beverly Bailey of Springfield; their ten children, Greg (wife, Patsy) Stratton, Karen (husband, Steve) Jeffers, Sheila Mack, Brenda (husband, Steve) Tucker, Jon (wife, Dina) Bailey, and Jim Bailey all of Springfield, and Sherri (husband, George) Diaz of Ashburn, VA, Jay Bailey of St. Louis, MO, Jeff (wife, Tonya) Bailey of Crystal Lake, IL, and Edward (wife, Kay) Stratton of Easton, MD; twenty-three grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren; one sister, Shirley (husband, Kenneth) Brown of Oakford, IL; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Family will receive friends from 5:00 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield. Funeral ceremonies will be at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 4, 2009 at Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home with Rev. Paul Rose officiating. Burial will follow at Camp Butler National Cemetery where military honors will be provided by the Interveterans Burial Detail of Sangamon County and the Department of Defense. Memorial contributions may be made to Calvary Temple, 1730 W. Jefferson, Springfield, IL 62702.