Joan Bailey Russell

November 16, 1933 - June 5, 2017

Joan Bailey Russell, a well known and respected resident of Willow Springs, unexpectedly passed away while at her home Monday afternoon, June 5, 2017 due to natural causes, she was 83 years old. Joan Bailey Russell was born November 16, 1933 in a two-room apartment in Wichita, Kansas to Robert Haz and Ruby Dell (Salisbury ) Bailey. The young couple had come off the road for Ruby to give birth, but they, with Joannie in tow, were soon back on the road traveling with a band of Gypsies, peddling their goods. They stayed on the road, wintering in Tyrone, Missouri until 1935 when Joan's grandmother, Angeline Bailey traded the farm, dubbed "the Dirty Place" by Joan for a farm on 63 highway toward West Plains. They lived with Angeline and Grampa George (when he was around) until Robert bought the Mayre place across the road. Wendell was born there in July 1940 and a couple of months later, Robert sold that place and they moved to a little house down the hill from where Margarite Wehmer's home is. From there, they moved to a farm out by where Pig Paul's Pork Plantation was located and Joannie attended Davis School. From there they moved out Pine Grove Road to the Booth-Wyatt house. Joan and Joyce Gurnsey walked to school in town. The next home was a little house on East Fourth Street that they rented from Claude and Edgie Moody for $12 a month. During that time, Robert was called to the Army where he spent his two years in Camp Lee, Virginia. In 1951, they left Fourth Street and moved to a rent house on 63 across from the Aztec. It was that very year that Joan graduated from Willow Springs High School and went to work at the telephone company as a switchboard operator alongside Peggy Pace. In 1953, Joan was married to Lee Maxwell Russell, a Korean War veteran in this First Baptist Church. They moved to Wichita where Max had a job working for Frito-Lay. Their first daughter, Debbie was born in Wichita, where Joan had been born twenty years earlier. Max, Joan and Deb moved to Mtn. Grove where daughter Cindie and son Dave were born. They were in Springfield when son Scott was born. While in Springfield, Joan worked at Smith-Glynn Callaway Clinic as a switchboard operator. They moved to Kansas City and Rogers, Arkansas with Max's construction jobs before settling in Ozark, Missouri. Max continued working on the road, leaving Joan to manage their real estate business, run the farm and keep up with the four kids. In 1980, they moved to Houston, Texas where Joan worked for Dr. Robert Fain, the team physician for the Houston Oilers. She enjoyed her association with the team members, especially Warren Moon. Max died of cancer in 1991. In 1997, Joan retired and returned home to Willow Springs where she plunged into civic groups and politics on the local, state and national level. Joan was an active member in the following groups: Howell County Republican Committee, Rotary Club, Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, Senior Center Committee, Howell County Sheltered Workshop, Willow Springs Theatre Guild, Senate Bill 40 Committee, Willow Springs Community Foundation Board, Chairman of the Alumni Banquet and member of the Scholarship Committee, Tuesday Study Club, and the Willow Springs Theatre Guild, holding offices in many. Joan was Howell County Republican of the Year in 2007. She was an active member of the First Baptist Church where she thoroughly enjoyed singing with the choir. She was also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the Mormons. Joan, Wendell and Lou Wehmer carried on a Saturday morning tradition with their morning information show, “Wake Up Willow!” Joan is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a daughter, Cynthia Jane Russell, a son, Scott Bailey Russell and a great-granddaughter, Ruby Adele Jamison. She is survived by her children, Debra Russell Foley, Columbia and a son, David Russell of the home, three grandchildren, Courtney Russell Jamison and her husband Scott of Columbia; Ashley Foley Gilland and her husband Casey, also of Columbia and Dylan Russell of Houston, Texas. Further surviving are seven great grandchildren, Hiram Scott, Olivia Jane, Lane Bailey, Addie Ruth, Clark Reed, Selah Rose and Eric Grant Jamison all of Colmbia, Missouri. Brother Wendell Bailey and wife Jane of Willow Springs and sister,Vicki Bailey Cave and husband Shannon of Holts Summit, along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends also survive. Because of Joan's passion for the Star Theatre and due to the recent fire which did extensive damage, we think Joan would be happy with donations made to the Star Theatre where she spent many hours working, carrying on business and popping popcorn. A visitation/family night for Joan will be held from 3pm-5pm, Sunday, June 11, 2017 at the First Baptist Church. Funeral services will follow on Monday at 10:00 am, June 12, 2017, also at the First Baptist church with interment at the Willow Springs City Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Willow Funeral Home. On-line condolences may be left at www.willowspringsfuneralhome.com