Martha "Joan" Bailey, 81, of Kearney died Friday, Jan. 15, 2010, at her home.

Memorial service in Kearney: later Burial: Emporia, Kan.

Mortuary: O'Brien-Straatmann in Kearney

Memorials: American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Kearney Humane Society

Born Oct. 28, 1928, in Emporia

Parents: George and Grace (Gordon) Bailey

Was a graduate of Emporia High School, received her bachelor's and master's degrees from Kansas State Teachers College, and earned a specialist degree from New York University.

Taught in high school and college in Kansas, then came to the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 1963, was assistant coach for the men's and women's swimming teams; also coordinated women's physical education; led the Aqua Lopers to become major contenders in the NAIA and later the NCAA; was named Swim Coach of the Year by the NAIA in 1989; had a 34-year career at UNK, was a pioneer in both the organization and funding of athletics for women at Kearney and throughout Nebraska; was the first softball coach at UNK and often said she had coached just about every sport at one time or another was inducted into the UNK Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003; taught swimming lessons every summer and was always thrilled when someone she taught to swim brought their own children for her to teach

Survivors include her sisters, Theresa Bailey of Indian Hills, Colo., and Marilyn Bailey of Alameda, Calif.; brother, Alan Bailey of Palm Desert, Calif.; and many nieces and nephews.

Was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Linda Sue Bailey; and brother, Hugh Robert Bailey.

(Kearney Hub, 18 January, 2010)

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∼Martha "Joan" Bailey, 81, of Kearney died Friday, Jan. 15, 2010, at her home. She was born Oct. 28, 1928, in Emporia to George and Grace (Gordon) Bailey.

Survivors include her sisters, Theresa Bailey of Indian Hills, Colo., and Marilyn Bailey of Alameda, Calif.; brother, Alan Bailey of Palm Desert, Calif.; and many nieces and nephews.

She was a graduate of Emporia High School, received her bachelor's and master's degrees from Kansas State Teachers College, and earned a specialist degree from New York University.

After several years teaching in high school and college in Kansas, she came to the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 1963 to be the assistant coach for the men's and women's swimming teams. Swimming was the only sport offered to women at that time. By 1964, she was coaching the women's team and also coordinating women's physical education.

Under her leadership, the Aqua Lopers became major contenders in the NAIA and later the NCAA. She was named Swim Coach of the Year by the NAIA in 1989. In her 34-year career at UNK, she proved to be a pioneer in both the organization and funding of athletics for women at Kearney and throughout Nebraska.

She was the first softball coach at UNK and often said she had coached just about every sport at one time or another. She was inducted into the UNK Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003.

Generations of children were taught to swim by Miss Bailey. She was tireless in her efforts to make sure every child, regardless of ability or aptitude, learned to swim. She taught lessons every summer and was always thrilled when someone she taught to swim brought their own children for her to teach.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Linda Sue Bailey; and brother, Hugh Robert Bailey.

Published in the Kearney Hub from 1/16/2010 - 1/18/2010