LaCena Bailey Obituary

LaCena Bailey was born in La Plata Missouri April 8, 1927. The daughter of George Walter and Annabelle. They were older parents, and she was the youngest of seven children. She was the last standing. In Heaven she joined her husband, Lilburn Edgar Bailey and son Gregory Lynn Bailey and first daughter-in-law Mary York in heaven. She has survived by her daughter, LaGenia Bailey and daughter-in-law Christie Webb and so many others who called her "Mom B". When asked what she wanted in her obituary to say she replied "she's dead" so that about sums it up the current state of affairs.

LaCena was a force of nature, and the mold was broken when she was born. She was proud of her children and her service to leadership roles in the Order of the Eastern Star and as a 60-year member of Beta Sigma Phi. Her sense of humor was funny, and she was known for her willingness to be completely irreverent and silly. Giggle fits between her daughter and her were notorious. There are sayings that were guiding forces in her life that we hold close in our own hearts. One was "each day takes care of itself if you let it". The second, "people show up when you need them, it may not be who you expect, but it will be who you need."

After a 23-day courtship, she married the love of her life, Lilburn Edgar Bailey, at the end of the World War II. It was love at first sight, and Lilburn told his mother when he returned home that evening that he met the girl he was going to marry. They met in Kirksville Missouri, where my mom was working as a switchboard operator at the phone company, and Lilburn was on leave visiting home. Though their love was intense, he wouldn't marry her until the end of the war saying he didn't want to leave a widow. He was a communications engineer and morse code operator, working in every branch of service. This included being assigned to every continent except Australia. Africa around the straits Gibraltar and Europe, through the Panama Canal, Japan, and India were part of his assignments. His ship was the only one of his fleet that made it through the North Sea Munitions run. During 1945, Mom went back to the farm in La Plata due to an illness of her mother. A hard life, raising Angus cattle, driving horse drawn wagons, tending to the vast garden, canning food and cooking for the thrashing teams that helped out during the harvest seasons on the big farm. She waited for my dad to come home, and they married August 18, 1945. They enjoyed 63 years of marriage before his passing in 2008.

After they married, LaCena worked as a fashion consultant in a boutique store in Macon Missouri. It was the type of place at all the clothes were in the back and she dressed people. This included hats and accessories. A friend from church said that she always wanted to applaud when LaCena walked in on Sundays. She always looked like a million bucks and was known for her snappy outfits. Sixteen hat boxes were part of the move from Quincy, Illinois to Chicago in 2009. She did make an entrance into a room. The last couple of weeks of her life were rough but she died with her earrings on.

1953 brought the birth of her son Gregory Lynn Bailey and the moved to Quincy, Illinois to open Bi-State Communications. He was an artist and a climber of mountains. A diagnosis the schizophrenia stole his peaceful mind, and he died due to the illness at age 28 in 1980. After 18 years of marriage, and being told she could no longer have children, her daughter LaGenia was born. She was proud of her daughter; they had a special bond, and she always introduced her daughter to others as Dr. Bailey. LaGenia became a pharmacologist who is board certified in psychiatric pharmacy. She is a mental health advocate for those who do not have a voice. After specializing in research and development of new medicines for the treatment of the symptoms of people with lived experience of schizophrenia, she has been part development teams for two antipsychotics for schizophrenia that are now used worldwide. Some of LaCena's last words to her were "I love you always and you were the best daughter I could have ever asked for".

LaCena was an advocate for people with lived experience of mental health conditions and an ally for all folks LGBTQIA. She loved people of all cultures. If you were to remember her, it would be for the fierce love of her family and friends, her fashion sense, her outspokenness, her strength and the ability to welcome and make a meal for whomever was at her table She will be deeply missed by her family and friends. May she rest in peace and dancing in the arms of her beloved. I love you like sky Mom. Fly well.

Memorial/Celebration of Life Service for LaCena LaCost Bailey

When: Saturday February 15th, 2025

Time:

9:30am visitation

10am Service

Where: Elliot Chapel at the Highlands of Westminster Place

3131 Simpson Avenue

Evanston, IL 60201

Phone number is (847) 492-7348

Feel free to wear your best hat in honor of Mom.

Coffee reception to follow....

LaCena Bailey was an avid supporter of mental health and felt strongly about LGBTQIA support for kids whose parents did not love them for who they are. Her own struggle with depression was present during her life. She was the oldest first-time attendee at the NAMI national convention at 89 years of age. Supporting these three organizations would be an honor to her legacy.

Memorial Donations in the Name of LaCena Bailey to

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance...

https://www.dbsalliance.org/donate-to-dbsa/

or Nami

NAMI National Alliance on Mental Illness

or Trevor Project

https://www.thetrevorproject.org/be-the-one/