W. Ray Bailey, age 97 of Lake of the Forest in Bonner Springs, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, June 5, 2024.

Rev. William Ray Bailey was born on September 30, 1926, in Tazwell, Virginia. He was one of three children born to John and Hattie (Jones) Bailey. He had two sisters, Ruth Ann and Nell.

Ray graduated from Tazwell High School and afterward, Ray was granted a “local preacher’s license” in the United Methodist Church. He earned a B.A. degree from Emory and Henry College in 1951 and a B.D. degree from Duke University of Divinity School in 1956. He married Ellen Depew from Cambridge, Maryland in 1955. Ray was ordained a United Methodist Minister in 1958. He was introduced to Clinical Pastoral Education while at Duke University and after graduation, had further Chaplain Supervisor training in Houston TX (Institution of Religion), Topeka, KS (Topeka State Hospital), and Joliet, IL (Reception and Diagnostic Center). Ray then came to Bethany Medical Center in Kansas City, KS in 1960 to be a Chaplain Clinical Pastoral Education Supervisor. He and Ellen moved to Lake of the Forest in 1963 and raised three children there, Kevin, Kathryn, and Kristen. Ray retired from Bethany Medical Center in 1999 after 40 years of service.

Over the years Ray helped with many organizations in the Kansas City area, including the Kansas East United Methodist Conference, the YMCA Kansas City Kansas Board (chosen YMCA Man of the Year in 1975), Cancer Action KCK Board, KCK Salvation Army Board, KCK Kiwanis Club, Bonner Springs-Edwardsville Kiwanis Club, was a Major in the Civil Air Patrol 1974-1978, Lake of the Forest Board President and Wayside Waifs Board.

He was preceded in death by both his sisters, Ruth Ann Burke, and Nell Moore. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Ellen (Depew) Bailey, his three children, Kevin Bailey, Kathryn Bailey, and Kristen Christensen and spouse Terry, Grandchildren: Philip Bailey, Janae (Bailey) Thornton and spouse John, Alison Bailey, Bethany (Bailey) Thompson and spouse Aaron, Jessica (Christensen) Wells and spouse Xavier, Benjamin Bailey, Andrew Christensen and four Great-Grandchildren.

Memorial contributions can be made to Wayside Waifs Animal Shelter, 3901 Martha Truman Road, Kansas City, MO.

Visitation was 10am to Noon. The Funeral Service began at Noon, both on Friday, June 14th, 2024 at the St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church (1501 Edwardsville Dr. Edwardsville, KS 66111.   Burial followed at the Edwardsville Cemetery.