Margaret (Peg) Bailey

Peg was born Margaret Lynne Conrad in Louisville, Ohio and grew up with her loving parents (Arlene and Russell), little sisters (Dottie and Bonnie) and little brother (Jim). Peg was an attentive big sister, who often cared for her siblings, even from a very young age. She attended Louisville High School and went to work in accounting at General Electric after graduation.

It was at GE that Peg met Ken Bailey, whom she eventually married on September 11, 1965. Over the next several years, Peg and Ken welcomed two children, Kim and Scott, to complete their family. Unfortunately, Ken was diagnosed with cancer and passed away on August 1, 1974, leaving Peg as a young widow and mother.

Being an independent woman of great strength and uncompromising faith, Peg carried on and became the head of her family. She guided Scott and Kim with love, encouraged their interests and supported their endeavors. She also gave the occasional discipline as needed…perhaps like the time Scott hit a golf ball and shattered their window. And of course, they also fondly remember her waking them up early on the weekends by running the vacuum! She would take Scott and Kim with several good friends and their families to Mountaineer Lodge for fun vacations of swimming and watching dog races, a tradition she carried on with her grandchildren.

Peg was always on the move and had many hobbies, including tennis and participating in monthly card club. In the summer she tended her precious tomatoes in her garden, hopped on the tractor to mow the lawn and even cut her privet bushes each year! In the fall, she’d be seen collecting dozens of bags of leaves that fell from the giant trees in her yard. She and her longtime neighbor and best friend, Marie, would go on bus trips and shopping adventures, or just enjoy sitting and talking on one of their patios. In recent years, Peg enjoyed spending time at the Elks club, where she always brought delicious treats, she had made to share.

Holidays were always very special to Peg, and she passed that on to her family. Her kids will share stories of her dressing up as Santa and visiting their school (she had a wonderful sense of humor, so embarrassing them while she was playing Santa was a great side benefit)! She was always a great cook and baker, and her cutout cookies are legendary. Her generosity and kind heart were evident each Christmas when she would painstakingly make hundreds of caramels and chocolate candies from scratch to share with neighbors, friends and family. Everyone looked forward to her caramels, homemade candy and cookie trays!

Peg was a loving grandma and “Miss B” to her grandchildren. They remember how she made even ordinary days feel special and wasn’t just present in their lives but was involved. She gave them experiences and stories to carry forever. Sleepovers at grandmas were times for little extras like staying up and watching TV, cuddling under the “strawberry blanket” and eating snacks! They also remember her wonderful cooking, with delicious Christmas dinner and her amazing mac and cheese! Food wasn’t just food with Peg, it was love, comfort and togetherness.

One of the most important values Peg modeled for her family was her strong Catholic faith. She went to mass every Saturday evening, no matter what. Peg often recited the rosary and she wore her Mary medal every day. She called on God through prayer to get her through many tough times in her life. She had a very compassionate spirit and spent a large part of her adult years caring for her in-laws, Robert and Evelyn Bailey. Peg was also a good listener and someone you could go to with a concern, and you always left feeling better.

Peg didn’t just exist in the lives of those around her-she enriched them. Her love, kindness and compassion will be greatly missed.

Peg was preceded in death by her husband (Ken Bailey), parents (Russell and Arlene Conrad), her in-laws (Robert and Evelyn Bailey), her very dear best friend (Marie Dupal), and her special dog, Jimmy.

She is survived by many loving family and friends, including her sisters Dot Geiselman and Bonnie Rittenour, brother Jim (Monica) Conrad; children Scott (Mindy) Bailey, Kim (Bob) Becherer; grandchildren Erin Diedrich, Madison Bailey, Lauren (Alec) Munster, Michelle (Garrett) Becherer and Stephanie (Brian) Dunphy; great-grandchildren Adaley, Brenden, Ella, Norah, Parker and Peyton.

Special thanks to the Canton Regency staff and to Crossroads Hospice for the excellent care they provided to Peg over the last several months.

A mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, February 7 at Little Flower Catholic Church, 2040 Diamond St., NE, Canton, Ohio 44721. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Peg’s memory to Crossroads Hospice Charitable Foundation at www.crhcf.org/memorial-donation; or to Little Flower Catholic Church, 2040 Diamond St. NE, Canton, Ohio 44721.