Lila Marguerite (Lenz) Bailey, 96, passed peacefully at Cedar Manor in Tipton, Iowa, Dec. 4, 2023, surrounded by family she loved dearly.
Lila was born March 6, 1927, in Iowa City, to Clara G. and Harry P. Lenz of Lone Tree. She was raised on the Lenz family farm north of Lone Tree. She graduated from Lone Tree High School in 1945.
After marriage to Miles H. Bailey in 1947, and the birth of her three girls, Margaret, Barbara and Pamela, the family moved from Iowa City to Hills. She studied accounting in the evenings and worked her whole life in the accounting and bookkeeping profession.
Lila was a public steward and prolific volunteer for causes she believed in. She volunteered with area non-profits to set up accounting systems, served on the Board of Directors of several organizations, served on the Town Council for the Town of Hills, and acted as the first volunteer Waste Management Coordinator for Hills, setting up the first curbside recycling program in Johnson County. Lila was active in local politics and the Johnson County Democrats. She worked on political campaigns, as a poll worker, and was a supporter of Democratic causes.
Lila was a Master Gardener and could often be found tending her prolific flower and vegetable gardens in the warm months. She would generously share the bounty with others. Her warmth, wit, and kindness served her well in all that she did and won her friends among many.
Lila was preceded in death by her daughter: Pam; husband: Miles; brothers: Leo and Clyde Lenz; her parents; many beloved friends and colleagues; and numerous cherished feline and canine companions. Survivors include her daughters: Margaret Bailey (Dan Miller) of West Branch and Barbara Bailey (Del Holland) of Iowa City; son-in-law: Jim Plaugher of Lansing; grandchildren: Jody Bailey, Zoe Plaugher, Sam Miller, Nathan Miller, Lucy Plaugher, Clara Kienitz, and Silas Hugill; and three great-grandchildren: Miles, Sawyer, and Sydney.
There will be an informal Celebration of Life event for Lila on Dec. 23, at 2 p.m., at Prairie Hill Cohousing Ecovillage, 140 Prairie Hill Ln, Iowa City. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed toward Cedar Manor Nursing Home (1200 Mulberry St., Tipton, IA 52772) or CommUnity Crisis Services (1121 S Gilbert Ct., Iowa City, IA 52240).
A full obituary may be viewed, and memories may be shared at www.lensingfuneral.com
