Dr. Hugh Robert Bailey

"It is finished and the strong man sleeps" - Christina Rossetti

Hugh Robert Bailey, 62, was born November 20, 1946 to George Ralph and Janet Commeree Bailey of Emporia, Kansas. He graduated from Emporia High School, University of Kansas and University of Kansas Medical School. He completed his dermatology residency in Galveston, Texas and relocated to the Kansas City area where he began private practice. He married Dr. Janet E. True and had two children, Dr. Jolie Bailey (Scott Sustek) of San Angelo, Texas and Kelly Bailey (Molly Sherwin) of Elk Grove, California. He later married Mary Barton Peterson and raised two daughters, Shannon Bailey Seal (Matthew Seal) of Matthews, North Carolina and Sarah Bailey (Greg Gavin) of Charlotte, North Carolina. He practiced dermatology in the Kansas City area for more than 31 years. He was past President of the Missouri Dermatological Society, as well as a member of the American Academy of Dermatology, the Kansas City Dermatological Society, and the American Medical Association.

Hugh was a man of many interests; he was a musician, a garden railroad aficionado, and a lover of antiques, water gardens, genealogy and animals. He was a member of the National Studebaker Club and one of his proudest possessions was his 1947 Studebaker pickup truck. He was an active member of the Kansas City Garden Railroad Society. Hugh and Mary were named Pet Connection Adopters of the Year in 2002. Their home in Overland Park has been a featured stop on tours of garden railway society and water garden society. He was a fan of all KU sports but was a special fan of the KU basketball team, holding season tickets for many years.

Hugh's patients will attest that he was a kind and caring man and his children and grandchildren will remember him as a loving, witty man, a master of puns and silly rhymes and sometimes really bad jokes. Hugh led the many family sing-alongs with his guitar, often making up his own words to whatever was being sung. He enjoyed his years singing in the choir of the Southridge Presbyterian Church.

Hugh Bailey is survived by his wife, Mary, his four children and his 6 grandchildren: Eiley, Mia, Devyn and Jon Wiley Sustek, and Madelyn and Cora Seal. He is also survived by his three sisters, Joan Bailey, Theresa Bailey (Maryanne Brush) and Marilyn Bailey (David Pratt) and his brother Alan. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Linda.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to The Pet Connection 5918 Broadmoor Street, Mission, Kansas 66202 or to the National Brittany Rescue and Adoption Network, www.nbran.org.

Memorial Sevice

There will be a memorial service for Hugh on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 2 p.m. at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 11100 College Boulevard, Overland Park, Kansas.