William "Bill" Bailey was born in Deepwater March 20, 1920, the son of Bertha May (Dobbs) and William Ernest Bailey, and answered God's call on January 24, 2004, at Clinton Healthcare and Rehab. Bill was very talented and could play about any musical instrument, especially the guitar. He actually made his living as a young man playing guitar and singing at the Dance Hall in Deepwater, which was owned and operated by the Roberts Family. In later life, he and a nephew, Larry Wilson, were invited to "sit in" with the Charlie Pride band and had to turn down an invitation to travel with him since he had a family by then. As a teenager Bill joined the CCC Camp and traveled to California to work with giant redwoods. This was his first time away from home and it was lonely, but many of his friends were drafted into the service and went a lot farther than California. Bill was an adventurous child and at the age of 12 hopped a freight train from Coffeyville, Kansas, back to Deepwater to his maternal grandparents. He was well taken care of by the knights of the railroad. He dined on "hobo stew" and was given whatever warm clothing the hobo heroes could spare. They also guided him on which freight trains to hop at each yard and he arrived in Deepwater well fed but tired. Bill was civic-minded and attended most of the town meetings, winning himself a term and one half on the city council. He was in charge of water maintenance and making sure the fire trucks were ready for emergencies. He was also in charge of Green Thumb Boys and was a great favorite of theirs. Bill was a quiet easygoing man who seldom lost his temper. He was witty and clever and kept everyone in stitches with his oldtime expressions and a few he coined himself. He was funny and fun to be with. Bill gave his heart to Jesus when he was 75 at the Brownington Baptist Church. After that he joined the church and attended regularly, doing whatever he could to further Christ's cause. Bill was united in marriage to Joann Robb. To this union nine children were born, Cynthia, Carol, John, James, Michael, Kenny, Charles, Richard and Donna. The children all knew they could come to their dad for understanding and comfort. He later married Ruby May Elliott. Preceding Bill in death were his son, Rickey; his parents; one sister, Jeane Snedeker; two brothers, Bob Bailey and Tom Bailey; one son-in-law, Elmont Kerns, and one grandson-in-law, Gary Wright. Surviving are his children; his wife Ruby; one brother, Bennie Bailey and wife Laverne, Excelsior Springs, and one sister, June Anzalone, Deepwater; 20 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren; several nephews, nieces, cousins and other relatives and many, many friends.
William "Bill" Bailey was born in Deepwater March 20, 1920, the son of Bertha May (Dobbs) and William Ernest Bailey, and answered God's call on January 24, 2004, at Clinton Healthcare and Rehab. Bill was very talented and could play about any musical instrument, especially the guitar. He actually made his living as a young man playing guitar and singing at the Dance Hall in Deepwater, which was owned and operated by the Roberts Family. In later life, he and a nephew, Larry Wilson, were invited to "sit in" with the Charlie Pride band and had to turn down an invitation to travel with him since he had a family by then. As a teenager Bill joined the CCC Camp and traveled to California to work with giant redwoods. This was his first time away from home and it was lonely, but many of his friends were drafted into the service and went a lot farther than California. Bill was an adventurous child and at the age of 12 hopped a freight train from Coffeyville, Kansas, back to Deepwater to his maternal grandparents. He was well taken care of by the knights of the railroad. He dined on "hobo stew" and was given whatever warm clothing the hobo heroes could spare. They also guided him on which freight trains to hop at each yard and he arrived in Deepwater well fed but tired. Bill was civic-minded and attended most of the town meetings, winning himself a term and one half on the city council. He was in charge of water maintenance and making sure the fire trucks were ready for emergencies. He was also in charge of Green Thumb Boys and was a great favorite of theirs. Bill was a quiet easygoing man who seldom lost his temper. He was witty and clever and kept everyone in stitches with his oldtime expressions and a few he coined himself. He was funny and fun to be with. Bill gave his heart to Jesus when he was 75 at the Brownington Baptist Church. After that he joined the church and attended regularly, doing whatever he could to further Christ's cause. Bill was united in marriage to Joann Robb. To this union nine children were born, Cynthia, Carol, John, James, Michael, Kenny, Charles, Richard and Donna. The children all knew they could come to their dad for understanding and comfort. He later married Ruby May Elliott. Preceding Bill in death were his son, Rickey; his parents; one sister, Jeane Snedeker; two brothers, Bob Bailey and Tom Bailey; one son-in-law, Elmont Kerns, and one grandson-in-law, Gary Wright. Surviving are his children; his wife Ruby; one brother, Bennie Bailey and wife Laverne, Excelsior Springs, and one sister, June Anzalone, Deepwater; 20 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren; several nephews, nieces, cousins and other relatives and many, many friends.
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