Frank & Bright Funeral Home
Zachary & Kelsey, Vada Rose, & Samuel Isaac Bailey
Jan 1st, 1970 - Oct 22nd, 2025The Bailey family—Zachary Adam, age 37, Kelsey Danielle, age 35, and a cherished daughter and son, Vada Rose, age 12, and Samuel Isaac, age 7—of Xenia, Illinois, passed away on October 22, 2025, in Ekalaka, Montana. Their firstborn son, Finnley Tate, age 10, survives, surrounded by loving family.
Zachary Adam Bailey was born July 29, 1988, in Springfield, to Darren and Cindy (Stortzum) Bailey. Zach was the oldest of four children, helping to shape him as a leader. He began developing his leadership skills at North Clay High School through the Illinois Governmental Internship Program, and also participated in FFA, Drama Club, speech contests, and played trumpet in the band.
Kelsey Danielle Aldrich was born August 15, 1990, in Olney, to Tony and Debbie (Murphy) Aldrich. From a very young age, Kelsey was active in church and faith driven. She grew up loving time with her family, especially taking golf cart rides with her sister. Kelsey was once crowned the Fall Festival Harvest Queen, and in high school she was also involved in FFA and Drama Club. She babysat for many families while growing up. Kelsey loved all things purple.
Zach and Kelsey were high school sweethearts and married on August 15, 2008.
Upon graduation from high school Zach attended Olivet Nazarene University. He and Kelsey wed during the summer following his first year, and she joined him in enrollment during the next year. They later moved home where Zach farmed while Kelsey finished her education at Eastern Illinois University, obtaining a degree in elementary education and graduating with a 4.0. They then moved to Texas for Zach to study at LeTourneau University where he fed his love for flying, studying missionary aviation, which ultimately led him to Papua New Guinea on a missionary aviation trip.
Zach grew up farming and continued to do so throughout his life alongside his father, grandfather, and brothers with the Bailey Family Farm. His drive helped him and brother, Cole, be nominated for North American Top Producer. Drawing on his farm experience and love of flying, Zach co-founded Guardian Aero with Blake Woodward. He was a trained pilot for planes and helicopters and was working toward earning a commercial license.
Kelsey had a passion for education and used her degree to teach at Full Armor Christian Academy, later homeschooling her children. Kelsey sought to educate others as well about her other passion, health and fitness. Her own health transformation led her to become a fitness and nutrition coach, earning NASM and ISSA certifications. Along with Zach, they competed in fitness competitions, with Kelsey earning two first-place NPC USA bodybuilding medals, and owned and operated Faithfully Fit in Effingham.
Zach and Kelsey’s greatest collaboration was their family that grew out of their intense love for each other—Vada Rose, born October 5, 2013, in Effingham, Finnley Tate, born February 1, 2015, in Mt. Vernon, and Samuel Isaac, born January 25, 2018, in Mt. Vernon.
Vada Rose Bailey made a name for herself as “Warrior Wrestling Princess” with her wrestling team, Full Armor Warriors, and as a budding actress with the Flora Nostalgia Theatre, as her father’s little princess, and as her mother’s “little mom.” She aspired to be a baker and to have lots of children that her mother would homeschool. Vada Rose loved people, especially her cousins and friends, and her cats. She had a special bond with her brother, Finn.
Samuel Isaac Bailey was following in his family’s footsteps and was a farm boy at heart, with a love of farming and playing with tractors. When you saw him, he would have his button-up shirt on with a leather belt, cowboy boots, and pocketknife in his pocket. Sam was a collector of pocketknives, bottle openers, and patches, but also an active boy who loved jiu-jitsu, wrestling, riding his bike, chopping down trees, and being in the woods. He was his father’s little helper, his mother’s baby boy, and his siblings’ tagalong, following them in all that they did. He was especially excited to make his acting debut with Vada Rose in this year’s Children’s Christmas Play at Nostalgia Theatre.
The Baileys’ beloved dog, Lego, was with them in passing. Lego was an adorable goldendoodle that loved his boy, Finn, and was always by his side.
As a family, the Baileys enjoyed traveling together, finding adventures wherever they went. Together, they took a trip to Mexico to build houses. The children especially loved finding fun outdoors while using their imaginations. Kelsey had a special place in her heart for all animals and made sure to pass this passion on to her children. They were a devoted family spending much of their time together sharing their love of food and flying with Zach. They were fearless.
One of the most important loves the family shared was that of their faith in God and love for their church and church family. Zach and Kelsey grew up with a devotion to God nurtured by both of their families and churches. This established a firm foundation on which they built their marriage and raised their children. They had a love for serving the Lord and others as demonstrated by Zach’s mission work, Kelsey’s work as a children’s pastor and their dedication to their church, New Hope Church in Effingham. Zach’s proudest moments include baptizing his three children and officiating his sister-in-law’s wedding after becoming an ordained minister.
The Baileys’ love for each other was never hidden and they were a family that was inseparable. While known together, they were also known and treasured for their unique personalities: Zach, the loud, fun-loving, adventurous leader; Kelsey, the enthusiastic, joyful friend, sister, teacher, and mother; Vada Rose, the fearless, sweet, loving warrior-princess, and Sam, the strong-willed little farmer. They will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved them.
Zach, Kelsey, Vada Rose, and Sam are survived by their loving families:
On the Bailey and Stortzum side—son and brother, Finnley Tate Bailey; parents and grandparents, Darren and Cindy Bailey; grandparents and great-grandparents, Bill and Jean Bailey and Robert and Mary Ann Stortzum; siblings and aunts and uncles, Cole (Marcy) Bailey and their children, Claire, Elliot, and Cora Jean, Abigail (Matthew) Shelton and their children, Allonia, Titus, Benjamin, and Ryker, Mason (Mallory) Bailey and their children, Posie, Price, and Parker; and many aunts and uncles, cousins, and great-aunts and great-uncles.
On the Aldrich and Murphy side—son and brother, Finnley Tate Bailey; parents and grandparents, Tony and Debbie Aldrich; sister and aunt, Kylie (Zach) Adkins and their daughter, Alaina; maternal grandfather and great-grandfather, Larry Murphy Sr.; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
They were preceded in passing by:
On the Bailey and Stortzum side—great-grandparents and great-great-grandparents: Lester and Lorene Stortzum, Vic and Fern Barbee, Ervin and Marge Barbee, and Jack and Olive Mitchell.
On the Aldrich and Murphy side—great-grandparents and great-great-grandparents, Dale and Bernice Murphy, Floyd and Hazel Wimberly, Leonard Earl "Andy" and Mary Ethel Jenkins, and Jim and Laura Aldrich; grandparents and great-grandparents, Jeanette Murphy and Galen and Phyllis Aldrich; an aunt, Darla Murphy; an uncle, Terry Aldrich; and a great-aunt, Sandy Davis.
A Celebration of Life for the Bailey family will begin at 9 a.m. on Monday, November 3, 2025, at Oil Belt Christian Service Camp, 555 Park Road, Flora, Illinois. Private burial will take place in Oskaloosa Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 2, at Oil Belt Christian Service Camp. In lieu of flowers and gifts, memorial donations are suggested to a GoFundMe account for the benefit of Finnley Bailey at https://gofund.me/246eaec58. For those wishing to order flowers and gifts, the family has chosen The Mustard Seed in Louisville, Illinois, as their preferred provider of these tributes. Arrangements are by Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora. To share a condolence or memory, visit: www.frankandbright.com