FORT DODGE – Richard E. Bailey, 85, died Sunday, February 15, 2026 at the Kansas Soldiers Home, Ft. Dodge.

He was born September 4, 1940 in Meade, Kansas, the son of J.D. and Annie Lenora (Lloyd) Bailey.  He was a graduate of Meade High School and a lifetime area resident.  He aspired to be an Architect but went into law enforcement.  He worked for the Haskell County Sheriff's Department and was a Park Ranger at Meade Lake until retiring at which time he worked in security.

He was a member of the VFW and loved teaching his children and grandchildren hunting and fishing and he enjoyed talking to those that would listen.

Survivors include: his children, Raymond Bailey and wife Eliza, Newton, Kansas, Robin Blackburn and husband Phillip, Pikeville, Kentucky and Windy Dillon and husband Dennis, Harrison, Arkansas; 15 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; a brother, Kelly Bailey, Eagle Mountain, Utah; and 3 sisters, Marilyn Hausknecht, Draper, Utah, Joanne Romney, Springfield, Virginia and Linda Wilde, West Jordan, Utah.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Sheri Buettgenbach and 3 great grandchildren.

Military graveside service will be at 10:00 am Monday, February 23, 2026 at the Kansas Veterans Cemetery, Ft. Dodge, with honors by KSARNG and Southwest Kansas Veterans Funeral Honor Guard.  There will be no public viewing, cremation has taken place.

The family suggests memorials to the Kansas Soldiers Home in care of Ziegler Funeral Chapel, 1901 N. 14th Ave., Dodge City, Kansas 67801.