Scott Bailey Obituary

Scott Alan Bailey, 58, of Seguin, TX passed from this world on to a new journey on Wednesday, March 5th, 2025 at the Kansas City Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri surrounded by his loving family.

Since May 2024, he battled Glioblastoma, a brain cancer for which there is no known cause or cure. However, Scott's determination helped him exceed the time of life the doctors originally expected.

Scott was born on June 17th, 1966 in Kansas City, Missouri to Walter and Barbara Low Bailey.

Scott graduated from Baldwin High School, Southwestern University (BA), Emporia State University (MS), and Kansas State University (Ph.D.).

His dedication drove his Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience teaching and research career at Texas Lutheran University for 30 years. During his tenure at TLU, he served on many committees, led two Academic Symposia, served as department chair, led several student groups abroad, directed the Honors Program, and created and directed the Integrated Science major. He always helped fellow colleagues and stood up for what he believed in for the good of the university and its students. In the greater academic field, Scott published and presented on many research projects, was past president of the nine-state Southwestern Psychological Association and was named a Fellow of the same organization.

On May 26th, 1990, Scott married Charla Marie Wenger in Lawrence, KS. Over the years, their family included five beloved dogs, which Scott loved training in agility.

Scott's love of learning started from his earliest days that would come to inform his decision to pursue psychology. His curiosity, creativity, perseverance, and passion for research appeared in many youthful activities and endeavors. One early project was building a maze for gerbils. Observing the decision-making of the gerbils was an early step in thinking about how the brain works for different living creatures.

Scott's professional research continued with studying the brains and behaviors of fish, rats, quail, and, most recently, people with synesthesia. His research in the field of synesthesia included traveling around the United States and into foreign countries to learn about the topic. On campus, he worked with students to learn about how the brains of people with synesthesia reacted when hearing music and encountering other stimuli. He was always thankful to the individuals who supported the program and the students who worked with the research.

Some things that Scott carried with him in each stage of his life included very eclectic friends, hobbies, and interests such as his love of dogs, maintaining long-term friendships and making new friends across the U.S. and other countries, playing pool, card and board games, teaching himself to play and build guitars, hiking, running marathons, making (and drinking!) beer, fishing, cooking, and fine-tuning the art of making the perfect cup of coffee. Needless to say-Scott was always thinking and busy!

Preceding him in death were his grandparents Harold and Vera Bailey, Clarence and Lorena Low (Ruth), and James Ruth.

Survivors include Scott's bride Charla, of the home, parents, Walt and Barbara of Baldwin City, KS, brother Erik (Cassy) of Baldwin City, KS, siblings-in-law Katherine (John) Scott of Horton, KS, Frances (Marty) Ramirez of Lebo, KS, David (Jill) Wenger of Atchison, KS, beloved nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and their families, and last but not least, their border collie, Snooker.

As we all know, Scott never did anything halfway and had an incredible witty sense of humor, so he wanted a party! To honor Scott, two Celebrations of Life will be held.

The first will be on Monday, March 24th at Fields and Ivy Brewery, Lawrence, KS. Doors will open at 3:00pm with the program starting after a visitation period. A reception and party will follow the program.

The second Celebration of Life will be on Friday, April 11th at 2:00pm at the Texas Lutheran University Chapel of The Abiding Presence, Seguin, TX. A similar format will be followed as the first.

Scott loved all music and songwriters, especially the Grateful Dead. Folks are encouraged to wear tie-dye or their favorite color and casual attire on the days of the Celebrations.

In lieu of flowers and plants, memorials may be made to the Kansas City Hospice House, www.kchospice.org, Kansas City Hope Lodge, https://raiseyourway.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=cms.page&id=1019 and/or the Dr. Scott Bailey Endowed Scholarship at Texas Lutheran University https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=959bcb or they may be sent in care of the Dishon-Maple-Chaney Mortuary, 909 Central Ave. Horton, KS 66439. A special message may be sent to the family at www.dishon-maple-chaney.com