Joyce Bailey
February 18th, 1935 - July 22nd, 2025
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Joyce's Obituary
Joyce L. Bailey, 90, a lifelong resident of Dowagiac, passed away Tuesday evening, July 22, 2025, at The Timbers of Cass County.
She was born on February 18, 1935, in Niles, MI, daughter of the late Homer and Virginia (Foreman) Bailey. Joyce was a 1953 graduate of Dowagiac Union High School. She was very athletic and loved sports. She played softball for Dowagiac and won the All-Sports award for Dowagiac High School. Joyce was an avid Dowagiac Chieftain fan and was an over 55-year Dowagiac football season ticket holder.
She was employed by F.W. Woolworth Co in downtown Dowagiac for 43 years, until their closing in 1991. Joyce then began working for Dowagiac Union High School and McLauchlin-Clark Funeral Home (now Starks Family Funeral Homes) for many years until her retirement in 2016.
Surviving are her brother, Michael (Sandy Rank) Bailey; nieces and nephews, Julie (Jeff) Young, Mike (April) Bailey, Greg (Lauryn) Pruett, and Karen (Gary Peraino) Rutherford; grandnieces and grandnephews, Connor Bailey, Keagan Bailey, Shereé Irwin, Jennifer (Dan) Cook, Pamela (Jason) Olivarez, Mark (Kim) Pruett, Jodi Pruett, and Delaney (Riley) Rutherford; and several great-nieces and great-nephews.
Preceding her in death were longtime companion, Martha Bosworth; sister, Marcia Pruett, and niece, Linda Pruett.
Joyce’s family would like to give a special thank you to Jason and Chrissy Grant for all the love, care, and support they provided Joyce. She truly loved their family. Also, much appreciation to the staff at The Timbers of Cass County for the loving care given to Joyce during her final years.
A service to celebrate Joyce’s life will be held at 12:00 PM on Saturday, July 26, at Clark Chapel and Cremation Services, 405 Center St, Dowagiac, where friends may visit with her family from 11:00 AM until the time of service. Pastor Stacey Wilder of Calvary Bible Church will officiate. Private family inurnment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Dowagiac. Memorial contributions in Joyce’s name may be directed to Dowagiac Athletic Boosters. To share a memory or message of condolence, please visit Joyce’s personalized webpage at www.clarkch.com.
She was born on February 18, 1935, in Niles, MI, daughter of the late Homer and Virginia (Foreman) Bailey. Joyce was a 1953 graduate of Dowagiac Union High School. She was very athletic and loved sports. She played softball for Dowagiac and won the All-Sports award for Dowagiac High School. Joyce was an avid Dowagiac Chieftain fan and was an over 55-year Dowagiac football season ticket holder.
She was employed by F.W. Woolworth Co in downtown Dowagiac for 43 years, until their closing in 1991. Joyce then began working for Dowagiac Union High School and McLauchlin-Clark Funeral Home (now Starks Family Funeral Homes) for many years until her retirement in 2016.
Surviving are her brother, Michael (Sandy Rank) Bailey; nieces and nephews, Julie (Jeff) Young, Mike (April) Bailey, Greg (Lauryn) Pruett, and Karen (Gary Peraino) Rutherford; grandnieces and grandnephews, Connor Bailey, Keagan Bailey, Shereé Irwin, Jennifer (Dan) Cook, Pamela (Jason) Olivarez, Mark (Kim) Pruett, Jodi Pruett, and Delaney (Riley) Rutherford; and several great-nieces and great-nephews.
Preceding her in death were longtime companion, Martha Bosworth; sister, Marcia Pruett, and niece, Linda Pruett.
Joyce’s family would like to give a special thank you to Jason and Chrissy Grant for all the love, care, and support they provided Joyce. She truly loved their family. Also, much appreciation to the staff at The Timbers of Cass County for the loving care given to Joyce during her final years.
A service to celebrate Joyce’s life will be held at 12:00 PM on Saturday, July 26, at Clark Chapel and Cremation Services, 405 Center St, Dowagiac, where friends may visit with her family from 11:00 AM until the time of service. Pastor Stacey Wilder of Calvary Bible Church will officiate. Private family inurnment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Dowagiac. Memorial contributions in Joyce’s name may be directed to Dowagiac Athletic Boosters. To share a memory or message of condolence, please visit Joyce’s personalized webpage at www.clarkch.com.
Service Details
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