Kimberley Jane Bailey

Kimberley Jane (Brown) Bailey was born on December 31, 1956, in Tulsa, OK to Melvin and Doris (Judy) Brown. She left this world to be with our Lord on October 5, 2023, at her home in Sperry, OK. Kim was a loving, caring, active, Godly woman. Kim was the first child born to Melvin and Judy, making her the big sister to her two brothers, Kevin and Larry. She treasured her role as big sister and often felt responsible for making sure the boys stayed out of trouble. There’s no way to know if she was the one who got them in trouble, though. Because Kim and Kevin were only 2 years apart in age, they did a lot of things together, shared friends, and went to school together most years. Kim and Kevin even shared a car after Kim learned to drive during her senior year of high school. Kim loved having a baby brother when she was 8 years old, when Larry was born, and was proud of all his accomplishments. When Larry and his then-girlfriend (now wife), Annmarie, were in college, they spent many nights at Jeff and Kim’s house playing cards and eating dinner. She loved being their big sister more than just about anything else. She graduated as Salutatorian from Sperry High School in 1975 where she was recognized in both National Honor Society and Oklahoma Honor Society. After high school, she attended the University of Oklahoma where she met the love of her life, Jeff Richard Bailey, III. She received an Associate’s degree in Occupational Therapy from South Oklahoma City Junior College, and she worked for 7 years as an Occupational Therapy Assistant. Kim was a standout athlete and scholar at Sperry High School. She participated in softball, basketball, and was a highly decorated track athlete. In addition, she was drum majorette of the Sperry High School marching band, the Pride of Sperry, as both a junior and senior. Kim was elected basketball homecoming queen her junior year of high school. While in college at OU, she was offered a position on the women’s basketball team after the coach observed her playing intermural ball with Joe Washington and was impressed. She turned the offer down to “focus on her studies.” She continued to compete in athletics into her thirties, including softball and basketball. Her claim to fame was running barefoot on gravel. In the Summer of 1977, Kim’s best friend, Marty, introduced her to her best friend, Jeff Bailey. From there, they struck up a friendship that blossomed into more. On June 10, 1978, Kim married the love of her life, Jeff, in Midwest City at Meadowood Baptist Church. Jobs at the United States Postal Service moved them from Midwest City to Sperry where they lived from 1985 until the present. Kim worked for the USPS for 30 years before retiring, spending the majority of those years as a Clerk at the Owasso Post Office. She was the Lead Financial Clerk when she retired. Kim was a proud mother to two children, Jeff Richard Bailey, IV and Kristin Ann (Bailey) McAlister. She devoted her life to her children. She was their soft place to land when things got tough, but she was also always there with words of wisdom. She had a sixth sense about other people, and she tried to instill that into her children. Her love and affection for her children was evident to others, and many of Jeff and Kristin’s friends have remarked over the years about how welcome and loving Kim made their home feel, which made them feel safe and loved as well. Kim’s faith was immensely important to her. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Sperry since high school. She was a Sunday School teacher there for many years, serving the youth group for 15 years as well as teaching 2nd grade children for an additional 8 years. At Falls Creek, Kim served as a camp sponsor for many many years and as a decision counselor for 3 years, which was a role she held especially close to her heart. Kim sang in the choir and was a member of the bell choir (with both her mother and daughter at one point). She loved working in the nursery with the babies and served in that capacity for many years. She had “the touch” with all the babies and was able to soothe a crying baby nearly instantly. She always enjoyed watching her children, nieces and nephews, and her grandchildren in their numerous sporting and school events. She would often rearrange her work schedule to attend school functions. She never missed a single game her children participated in. She was Kristin’s softball and basketball coach for several years, and many of Kristin’s friends growing up hold dear memories of their time with Kim’s guidance. Kim has always enjoyed traveling with Jeff and loved their many adventures to car shows together. She entered her Hellcats in many shows and even won several herself. She enjoyed the Hot Rod Power Tours and was a two-time member of the Long Haul Gang. The later years, after retirement, were spent with their new friendships they developed with their car club. Kim’s favorite car show was by far the Beggs Car Show because of the wonderful food cooked by the church ladies. Kim also loved traveling to many of the OU games, both home and away games. Her favorites were the OU/Texas games, and many might be surprised to learn that she was a great smack-talker, especially at OU/Texas. She and Jeff were season ticket holders for OU football for many years. During those years, she would come and visit Kristin in college and even stay with Kristin and her husband Ryan at their home, which gave her extra time with her grandbabies. Kim wasn’t just a lover of OU football. She was also an avid women’s basketball and softball fan. She and Jeff had season tickets to both teams’ games for several years and enjoyed traveling to Norman to watch both teams play often. Kim was a very bashful child, hiding behind her mother’s legs in many situations. She would not read aloud in class, and her teacher thought that she wasn’t able to read. Her mother asked the teacher to have Kim read to her individually to prove she could read, and the teacher was amazed to find just how smart Kim actually was. Kim was still very shy, even as an adult. When Jeff was trying to get Kim to go out on a date with him, she kept turning him down. He would invite her to come watch him play softball, and she eventually came. He would put money in her glove box for gas because she made the trip out of her way to see him. She told Kristin, years later, that this was when she knew what a loving, thoughtful, and generous guy he was, and it was one of the first reasons she fell in love with him. Kim was the best wife, mother, and Memaw this world has ever seen. Both of her children, all of her grandchildren, and her great-grandchildren will attest to that fact. She will be truly missed. Kim is survived by her husband Jeff, of the home; her son Jeff and wife Teresa Bailey, of Sapulpa, OK; her daughter Kristin and husband Ryan McAlister, of Verdigris, OK; her brother Kevin and wife Crystal Brown, of Vera; her brother Larry and wife Annmarie Brown, of Cleveland; 9 grandchildren; 4 (and one on the way) great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, and uncles; extended family and countless friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Melvin and Judy Brown.

Kimberley Jane Bailey

December 31, 1956 - October 5, 2023