Obituary of Pamela J. Bailey

Pam Bailey, 52, died Sunday February 5, 2006 at home surrounded by her family. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 on February 18 at Old Brick, 26 E. Market Street in Iowa City. A potluck will follow. A memorial fund has been established in Pam's memory. Donations can be sent to her family’s home at 2150 Prairie Du Chien Rd., 52240. For further information please contact Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. Pam was born at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City on March 24, 1953 and grew up in Hills, IA. She graduated from University High School in 1971. Most of her career skills were learned on the job, as an original member of the New Pioneer Co-op’s Collective from 1973 to 1981, where she did everything from sanding floors at the Co-op’s Gilbert Street location to keeping the books. After leaving the Co-op, in 1981, Pam married her sweetheart of 9 years, Jim Plaugher. She then pursued a course of study as a machinist at Kirkwood Community College. She never practiced, and instead took time off to raise her two daughters Zoe and Lucy. Her love of children eventually led to her next job at Willowwind School as a Business Manager, school nurse and jokester. During her 8 years there she enjoyed shocking kids by showing them the hidden toilet in her office. Children were known to fake paper cuts so that they could visit her. “She was the soul of the place,” said Nancy Macfarlane, music teacher at Willowwind. Pam left Willowwind in 2003 to begin her battle with endometrial cancer, which was for her, a very spiritual experience and also very private. She started working again in 2004 as Executive Director for Crescendo Children’s Choir where she wrote the bylaws, ran parent meetings, and again found much of her joy in the children. Pam is survived by her husband Jim Plaugher their daughters Lucy and Zoe (of Madison, WI). She is also survived by her parents Lila and Miles Bailey of Hills, IA and her sisters, Barb Bailey (Rick Hugill) and Margaret Bailey (Dan Miller) of West Branch, IA. She is also survived by 10 nieces and nephews.