Norma Jean Bailey

Danville - Norma Jean Clem Bailey, 92, of Danville, died June 3, 2018. She was born September 16, 1925, in Danville, the only child of Paul Dennis and Elsie Irene Wilson Clem. She married James Richard (Jim) Bailey on April 13, 1947, at St. James United Methodist Church in Danville. He survives. Jean graduated from Danville High School in 1943. She relished the fact that she was in A cappella choir with Bobby Short and Dick Van Dyke. When she was in high school, she worked in the shoe department at Miller's Clothing store and, after graduating, she worked at Sugar Creek Creamery Co.. In 1944-45, she attended one year of college in Terre Haute, IN, at what was then Indiana State Teachers College. When she returned home, she worked at Leverenz Electric. After her marriage, she was employed at W. E. Wayland Insurance. Jean was proud of Jim's service in the Navy during WWII and the Korean War. She was a Navy wife with two young children during Korea. She returned to college in 1956, attending DACC when it was Danville Junior College and still at Danville High School. She finally received a bachelor's degree magna cum laude from Indiana State University in 1961 and a Master's Degree in Education from the University of Illinois in 1963. Jean did post-graduate work on a doctoral dissertation on two-year college reading programs. She taught 10 years in the Danville school system, teaching at Daniel, Grant, and East Park Junior High. She retired after teaching 27 years in Adult Education at Danville Area Community College. She was the first GED teacher at DACC, and she established a reading lab and learning center at the college. She was a life member of the National Education Association and a member of the DACC Education Association. She was active in the Illinois Adult Education Association and the Illinois Public and Adult Education Association serving as treasurer. Jean was a member of the Danville Branch of the American Association of University Women, serving as treasurer; a past-president of Alpha Iota Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma; a co-founder and first vice-president, then president of the Vermilion Valley Reading Council. She was treasurer, and then holder of the line of offices leading to the presidency of the Illinois Reading Council of the International Reading Association. As the Vice-President Elect of IRC, she was chairman of the state conference held in Peoria in 1987. She had an article about the reading lab at DACC published in The Journal of Reading. Jean loved to spend time with her family; read; travel; go to antique shops, flea markets, and festivals; and work on family genealogy and photo albums. She hated to cook. She and Jim enjoyed their 70th wedding anniversary celebration with family and friends. Jean was preceded in death by her parents, several aunts and uncles, and cousins. She is survived by two sons, Terry Wayne (Debbie) Bailey, Cincinnati, OH; Jim Dennis (Kathy) Bailey, Danville; and one daughter Cheryl Jean (Bill) Bequette, Mt. Zion, IL; seven grandchildren, Shannon Elizabeth Bailey, Mt. Zion; David Wayne Bailey, N. Hollywood, CA; Joshua Joseph Votaw, New York, NY; Lindy Sue (Jason) Miller, Mt. Zion; Andrew William Bailey (Julie) Bequette, Savoy, IL; Schuyler "Sky" Jude (Jennifer) Bailey, Danville; and Jessica Paige (A.J.) Lewis, Covington, IN; eleven great-grandchildren, Nicholas Charles Stephens, Tevin Christopher Ford, Brandon Thomas Price and Cameron James Price; AJ Miller and Lucy Grace Miller; twins: Avery Elizabeth and Caroline Elise Bequette, Revan Alexander Bailey, Gabrielle Paige Lewis and Gracie Kate Lewis. Two great-great- grandchildren: Kendrick Wayne Ford and Remii Elizabeth Ford. Several cousins, nieces and nephews also survive. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:30 AM on Thursday, June 7, 2018 at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 3940 N. Vermilion Street, Danville. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Park. Visitation will be held from 9:00 - 10:30 AM on Thursday June 7, 2018 at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Fairmount Conservation Club, P.O. Box 321, Catlin, IL 61817; the Vermilion County War Museum; St. James United Methodist Church, or the organization of your choice. For those who received Mom's Christmas letter, you will recognize that she wrote her own obituary. She was interested in everything and everyone and assumed others were also. Please join Norma's family in sharing memories, photos, and videos on her tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.

Visitation Jun 7, 2018 Thursday, 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Sunset Funeral Home & Cremation Center 3940 N Vermilion st Danville, Il 61834 Celebration of Life Jun 7, 2018 Thursday, 10:30 AM Sunset Funeral Home & Cremation Center 3940 N Vermilion st Danville, Il 61834 Final Resting Place Sunset Memorial Park 3901 N. Vermilion Street Danville, IL 61834