HUTCHINSON — Jackie Lee Bailey, 86, died Sunday Aug. 2nd, 2026 at Hospice House of Reno County.
He was born Sept. 22, 1939 in Ashland, Kan., the son of Charles Oscar and Alice S. (Hinkle) Bailey. He was raised on the Briggs Ranch 11 miles south of Mullinville. He graduated from Mullinville High School in 1957.
A long-time resident of Great Bend, he retired from Williams Natural Gas Company. He belonged to Heartland Community Church in Great Bend and served in numerous ways.
He served in the U.S. Air Force as an Engine Mechanic, First Class. He was stationed in Bangor, Maine for two years and at Yokota Air Force Base in Japan for two years. After returning from the service, he barbered for seven years in Kansas City and Greensburg.
On Oct. 25, 1961, he married Sue LaDean Cooley in Cunningham, Kan. Together in their 64 years of marriage, Jack and LaDean traveled to all 50 states.
LaDean and her three children survive, listing youngest to oldest, Wendy Howe (Michael) Ozark, Mo., Aleisha Bragg (Tom) Rapid City, S.D., Ron Bailey (Nancy) Franklin, Ind. There are eight grandchildren, Anna Howe, Amelia (Trevor) Whittington, Beth (Brody) Weavill, Thomas (Reagan) Bragg, Jessica (Brice) Harkless, Elizabeth (Tony) Branstutter, Alyssa (Dan) Montgomery, Amanda (Nick) Hines; and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister. Nita (Bob) Kilgore; and granddaughter Angeline Aurora Bragg.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026 at the Heartland Community Church, Great Bend, Kan. The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday also at the Heartland Community Church. Graveside services with military honors will be at 2:30 p.m., Thursday at the Maud Cemetery, Cunningham, Kan. Memorials may be sent to Heartland Community Church, 4907th Street, Great Bend, KS 67530 and may be mailed in care of Livingston Funeral Home, 1830 N. Main, Kingman KS 67068.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Livingston Funeral Home
1830 N. Main
Kingman KS 67068
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Aug. 4, 2026
