Josephine (Allen) Bailey

Josephine “Jo” (Allen) Bailey, age 98 passed away peacefully on Friday evening, March 14, 2025 at her home near Spurgeon’s Corner.

Jo was born January 31, 1927 in Brown County, to her parents, the late William and Harriett (Finehout) Allen. She was a 1945 graduate of Center Grove High School and went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Home Economics from Purdue University in 1949. Jo later earned her Master’s Degree in 1968 in Personal Counseling from the University of Miami of Ohio. She married Paul Delbert Bailey on March 4, 1950 in West Lafayette and were blessed with 55 years of marriage before his passing in 2005.

Jo was a former member of the American Baptist Church in Fort Collins, Colorado and was a former Girl Scout Leader. She enjoyed tending to her flower gardens, quilting, knitting and crocheting for herself, family and friends and donating to groups such as Linus Blankets.  Jo also enjoyed traveling with her husband, journaling and always jumped on the opportunity to teach and share information with others. She was an avid reader, especially of John Steinbeck’s novels.

Jo is survived by her children, Ellen S. (Daniel) Miller of Bargersville and Douglas C. Bailey of Freetown; sister, Sally S. Walters of Morgantown; grandchildren, Melanie (Dave) Toundas of Dickson, TN, Beth Darin Elizabeth Cox of Greenwood, Jenny (Brandon) McGhehey of Bloomington, Dustin (Grace) Bailey of Lebanon, OH and Deanna (CJ) Slone of Indianapolis; great grandchildren, Caleb, Samuel & Ryan McGhehey, William and Anna Toundas, Piper and Elodie Bailey.

In addition to her parents, Jo was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Bailey, siblings, William Allen and Lucille Wilson; and brothers-in-law, Dean Walters and Bobby Wilson.

In keeping with Jo’s wishes, she will be cremated. Interment will follow a private gathering of family and friends at Houston Cemetery, just down the road from her place of birth, alongside her mother, father, brother William, sister Lucy and brother-in-law Bob. Cremation services have been entrusted to Meredith-Clark Funeral Home Cremation & Personalization Center in Morgantown. 

Memorial contributions may be sent in honor of Jo to the Brown County Humane Society, PO Box 746 Nashville, IN 47448.      

Online condolences to the Bailey family can be made at meredith-clark.com.

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