JoAnn Cook Bailey

JoAnn Cook Bailey, “Jo,” 74, of Liverpool, NY, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. She was born on March 29th, 1952 to Lucie Lasda and Alvah Cook, Sr. of Tully, New York. She cherished her Tully roots and was a proud graduate of the class of 1970.

JoAnn continued her education at SUNY Oswego, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Education. It was at Oswego that she met her soul mate, Mark Bailey in a music class. This relationship started a love that blossomed and led to their marriage in August 1976, beginning a beautiful partnership that spanned nearly 50 years.

They settled in their family home they had built in Liverpool to raise Gretta Beth, Dustin Ross, and Marshall Neil, remaining close to extended family throughout their lives. Their home was full of love and host to many family holidays and birthday parties.

Mark and JoAnn were longtime members of the Liverpool First United Methodist Church and raised the Bailey children with an unwavering faith, strong work ethic, and family values. JoAnn was also their most devoted fan, attending concerts and events with her video camera, unafraid to hoot and holler for her kids. Her devotion to family extended to the six beautiful grandchildren for "Grandma/MeMaw" and "Grandpa." JoAnn would share stories of her children and grandchildren to whomever would lend a listening ear, carrying pictures of them at all times.

JoAnn considered her role as "manager of the household" to be her most important and fulfilling position, often clarifying that she did not work “outside of the home.” She always made sure kids were at their events and whoever came through the door was fed. She held various positions through the years, including teaching special education in Denton, TX and Davenport, IA, substitute teaching in Liverpool Schools, and serving customers at Wegmans. She cared for her regular customers, her "peeps," as she called them, who often would wait behind other customers regardless of how short other lines were. JoAnn also volunteered for many organizations her family was involved in, especially the Scouts and Little League. Before there was mass notification, there was JoAnn’s meticulously hand-drawn phone trees.

Her selflessness was most profoundly displayed in the seven and a half years she spent caring for her mother, Lucie, ensuring her final years were filled with comfort and dignity. JoAnn’s greatest joy was the health and happiness of her children and grandchildren, and she took immense pride in seeing them continue her legacy of bringing the family together. Her peace was found knowing that Gretta, Dustin, and Marshall remained in frequent contact and emphasized cousin time as she had always done for them.

JoAnn was predeceased by her parents, her brothers, Alvah Cook, Jr. and Andrew Cook, brother-in-law, Gaven Bailey, and nephew, Brian Cook. 

She is survived by her devoted husband, Mark Bailey of Liverpool, their three children, Gretta (Jonathan) Miles of Liverpool, Dustin (Sonja) Bailey of Webster, and Marshall (Sara) Bailey of Clay, as well as 6 grandchildren; Addison and Benjamin Miles, Ella and Brian Bailey, and Zachary and Alexander Bailey, her siblings, Linda Frazier and Leonard Cook, Sr., brothers-in-law, Colin (Laura) Bailey and Daren Bailey, as well as nieces and nephews; De-anne Cook, Theresa and Johnny Frazier, Leonard Cook, Jr. and Shannon (Mike) Ashley, Andrew and Steven Cook, Deirdre and Melissa Bailey, Evan (Katie) and Justin Bailey and Meghan (Kyle) Kiehn, and her favorite Goldendoodle, Ohbert Henry Bailey.

JoAnn was a blessing to many and always left an impression on others. Her faith remained strong, and we are at peace knowing she is with her Lord and Savior.

Calling hours will be held Thursday, May 28, 2026 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Maurer Funeral Home Moyers Corners at 3541 State Route 31, Baldwinsville, NY. A funeral service will be held Friday, May 29, 2026 at 11:00 am at Liverpool First United Methodist Church, 604 Oswego Street, Liverpool, NY 13088. Burial will follow at Pine Plains Cemetery in Clay, NY.

In Lieu of Flowers, donations in JoAnn’s memory can be made to a charity and program she cared deeply about and advocated for: Young Life Rochester East, PO Box 251, Webster, NY 14580, or online at http://giving.younglife.org/rochestereast

Please sign the Maurer Funeral Home on-line guestbook for JoAnn to express your condolences to her family.