Colleen Marie Bailey

Colleen Marie Bailey, age 60, passed away peacefully at her home in Strawberry Plains, surrounded by her crazy and loving family. “It is okay to cry, but it is not okay not to laugh.” If you knew Colleen, you would have known her sense of humor and that she was the queen of one-liners. Her passions in life were making people laugh, poetry, teaching children, especially teaching those children about God’s Love. First Baptist Church of Strawberry Plains was her second home, in which she taught Sunday School and was in charge of the church vans for many years. She also headed up the crafts for VBS for 27 years, coached Upward soccer and basketball as well as the commissioner for cheerleading. Colleen was a substitute teacher for Jefferson County schools, before becoming a teacher's aid for the CDC class at Rush Strong. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Henry and Anna Shoemaker and Rev. Lida and Doxie Lawson; father, Don Lawson; half-brother, Russell (Sandy) Reynolds; half-sister, Linda Reynolds, and special friend, Robbie Hardin. Colleen is survived by her husband of 26 years, Richard Bailey; sons, Rich (Megan) and Brandin (Jessica) Taylor; bonus daughters, Michele (Willie) Miller and Angie (Wayne) Palmer; mother, Barbara Reynolds; sister, Tammy (Jarrod) Hayes; half-sister, Wanda Reynolds; half-brothers, David, Charlie (Linda) and Carl Reynolds and Louie (Jennifer) Albright; bonus brother, Brock Webster; grandchildren, Brenda and Toby Cate; Anna, Abby, Lily, Levi and Vanessa Taylor; Summer, Aubrey and Kylee Diguls and Oliver Jennings; bonus grandchildren, Lorelai Jennings, Bryson and Braylynn Palmer, special bonus grandchildren; and each and every one of her CDC students. Funeral service 7:00 pm on Monday, February 24, 2025, at First Baptist Church of Strawberry Plains with Rev. Brock Webster and Pastor Tony Hayes officiating. Friends and family will meet at 11:00 am on Tuesday, February 25th, at Strawberry Plains Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm prior to the funeral at the church on Monday. Pallbearers: Rich and Brandin Taylor, Shawn Dillard, Elliot and Issac Hooks, Andrew Craig; honorary pallbearer: John Dillard and John Tipton. In lieu of flowers, she requests that donations of children’s school supplies be made to Rush Strong Schools by bringing them to the church on Monday night. Fielden Funeral Home is honored to serve the Bailey family.

Colleen Marie Bailey

July 7, 1964 - February 22, 2025