Bernard W. Bailey

Bernard Wayne Bailey, age 68, of Rushville, Missouri, passed away peacefully on July 10, 2025, at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Bernard was born on April 12, 1957, the son of John Wayne Bailey and Patricia Louise (Brown) Bailey in Lubbock, TX.

He married Mary Annette Thebo on December 10, 1983, in Kansas City, MO, and they have shared over forty years together raising a family and cherishing each other. Bernard will be missed by his children, John Bailey, Nichelle Bailey and Danielle Bailey; his surviving siblings, Rick (Carol) Bailey and Lindsey (Jill) Bailey; and his numerous nieces and nephews along with great nieces and nephews and numerous lifelong military brothers and best friend Ricky. He is preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Virginia Rose Bailey, Donna Bailey and brother, Phillip Bailey.

He began his employment for the railroad and spent fifteen years as a carman. Growing up in a military family, he finally settled back on the Bailey Family Farm.  Joining the Missouri Air Guard in 1982, in 1991 he became a full-time Aircraft Mechanic. Bernie traveled the world on various deployments with only Australia and Antarctica missing from his long list.

Bernie's areas of main operations included Operations Iraqi Freedom, the Gulf War/Desert Shield/ Desert Storm, the Persian Gulf War and Operation Enduring Freedom. Bernie received numerous medals and accolades for his service. He loved the people he worked with and he served with the Air Force as an aircraft mechanic until his honorable discharge and retirement as a Senior Master Sergent in  2017.

One of his favorite things to do was to check out different thrift stores with his son John; they spent countless hours together searching for a deal. Watching Shelly, John and Danielle at any of their activities was a joy for him as he felt like he missed so much time away. He spent his springtime hunting for morel mushrooms and loved tending to his garden. Travelling to the mountains to decompress and find the beauty in life and nature were some of his favorite times with his family. He was a devoted husband and father and was especially known to always be available to help fix a crisis. He was the 'fun uncle' who treated his nieces and nephews like his own.

A funeral service will be on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at 11:00 AM at Sugar Creek Church in Rushville, MO, with Keith Hoover officiating. Visitation with the family will begin at 10:00 AM Saturday at the church. He will be laid to rest in Sugar Creek Cemetery and a lunch will follow in the church hall. Memorials may be left to the Sugar Creek Ladies Aid in care of the Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home who is providing funeral care.