Carol Ann Bailey

Carol Bailey, 85, of Kearney, Missouri, passed away February 9, 2026, at home with her

children Darlene and Bryan at her side. Visitation will be held Monday, March 16, 2026

from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at First Christian Church in Kearney. A memorial service

and celebration of her life will follow at 12:00 p.m.

Carol was born in Kansas City, Missouri, July 24, 1940 to Earl and Maxine (Jackson)

Musgrove. They lived on a small farm between Kearney and Liberty, MO and she

attended the Prairie Home School through the 8 th grade. She attended Kearney High

School, graduating in 1957.

Carol lived in Clay County all but three years of her life. She married the love of her life,

Ned Bailey in 1958 at the First Baptist Church in Kearney. They had almost thirty years

together raising their two children. Carol was not able to work outside of the home

much because of her chronic health issues, but later owned and operated "Alterations

and More," a small business in downtown Kearney.

Always "on the go," Carol like to get friends and family together for luncheons, dinners,

class reunions, card parties and the like. She was the organizer of many events over

the years. She was a proud member of First Christian Church, her bridge club for

almost 60 years, a Hand and Foot card group, Platte-Clay Pathfinders, the Beta Signa

Phi sorority and the Red Hat Society.

Carol loved gardening and flowers. She would spend hours working in her yard and

had dozens of variations of iris, day lilies and hosta. She also loved yard decorations,

including her infamous Easter Bunny which has made an annual appearance for more

than 30 years.

Carol had many hobbies over the years and loved to work with her hands, though it was

often painful. She loved to crochet and was an accomplished seamstress and quilter as

evidenced by an estimated 130+ quilts she pieced over the years. Carol was also the

"collector" of many things. She particularly loved household items, fabric, clothing and

plants. If a family member or one of her friends needed something, she took it as a

challenge and would find it, often coming up with several of the same item.

Carol's proudest moments were beating the predictions of many doctors and living past

40 years of age, watching her children and grandchildren grow and prosper and being

active up until her last days. She was loved and admired by many for her

independence, strength and perseverance.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ned Bailey, parents Earl and Maxine

Musgrove, two brothers, Billy Bruce and Bobby Musgrove.

She is survived by her children Darlene and Bryan (Lisa) Bailey and her grandchildren

Blake Bailey (Casey Semos), Grace Bailey, Claire Bailey and Luke Bailey, as well as

many dear friends and extended family..

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kearney First Christian Church to support

the mission work of the Tuesday Quilt Ladies and other projects of the church.