Velma Joan "Joanie" Bailey

Velma Joan "Joanie" Bailey, 77, of Robinson, IL, passed away on August 22, 2024, at Regional Hospital in Terre Haute, IN. Born on July 18, 1947, she was the middle daughter of Wayne & Rosella (Chapman) Hill of Annapolis, IL. She grew up in the close-knit community of Annapolis and graduated from Hutsonville High School with the Class of 1965. Her early career began at Berkey Photo in Des Plaines, IL, followed by a stint selling Avon products. In 1972, Joanie found her long-term professional home at Robinson Transformer Corporation, where she worked diligently until the factory's closure in 2006.

Joanie married Donnie B. Bailey on May 24, 1975, and together, they built a life full of love and shared adventures in Porterville. They enjoyed tending to their gardens, taking care of their yard, and cultivating vibrant flowers that reflected Joanie's eye for beauty. Their marriage was also filled with travel, including several Caribbean cruises, multiple trips to Hawaii, and a memorable journey to Alaska. Joanie loved capturing these experiences, filling photo albums with memories, and directing video recordings with Donnie as her cameraman. This should come as no surprise to those who knew her, as her determined spirit was always quick to take charge!

A woman of many talents, Joanie was especially known for her craftwork skills. Her tatting work was a significant part of her life, from creating delicate covers for Easter eggs to painstakingly crafting intricate ornamentations for her homemade greeting and Christmas cards. She also crocheted, made quilts, and painted saws - always finding new ways to express her innate creativity. Joanie's love for cooking was another way she shared her talents with others. Her homemade noodles, pumpkin rolls, and especially her peanut butter fudge were family favorites, and her kitchen was often filled with the warmth of her delicious creations. She surrounded her home with hummingbird feeders and filled her house with statues that displayed the delicate beauty of these beloved creatures.

Throughout her life, Joanie was a faithful attendee of Pleasant Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Her commitment to her church community reflected her abiding relationship with Jesus, a relationship that guided her throughout her life and provided her with a deep-seated sense of comfort and hope. Today, her family and friends find solace in the knowledge that Joanie is now in the presence of her Savior, experiencing the fullness of peace and joy in His eternal embrace.

She leaves behind her devoted husband, Donnie, and two sisters, Carolyn Hain and Janet Phipps. Joanie also leaves a lasting legacy with her beloved nieces & nephews - Teresa & Rob Reynolds, Chris & Dawn Blankenbeker, Jerry Phipps, and Tawnya & Brett Riggins – each of whom she loved as her own. Her seven great-nieces & nephews, along with her two great-great-nieces and her great-great-nephew, were the light of her life, filling her later years with immeasurable joy. She was preceded in death by her parents, Wayne & Rosella Hill; her brothers-in-law, Fred Hain and Wayne Phipps; and her nephew, Alex Blankenbeker.

It was Joanie's wish to have a private family graveside service at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the cemetery, with memorial envelopes available at the Goodwine Funeral Home in Robinson, which has been entrusted with these arrangements.