Karen Ann Bailey

Karen Ann Bailey, 76, of Carmel, Indiana, passed away July 28, 2016 peacefully surrounded by family and friends, including her daughter and husband of 53 years, after a long, courageous battle with ovarian cancer. She was born on April 3, 1940 in Danville, Indiana. Karen started her dance career at the age of 4, and by age 15, had her own dancing studio in the basement of her parent's home. She taught dance in that studio for many years. She graduated from Danville High School in 1958 and earned a BA in dance from Butler University in 1962. While at Butler, she won many awards and accolades for her dancing and beauty. She enjoyed her years as a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority. While at Butler, Karen discovered her passion for the performing arts. She started her professional performing career at Footlight Musicals, which later became Starlight Musicals. Karen performed all over the Midwest in stage performances, with an illustrious career of 14 years at some of the largest performing stages ranging from St. Louis, Kansas City, Atlanta, and many other cities. She was involved in over 50 stage productions and then became the resident choreographer for Star...[more]

View Full Online Obituary and Tributes

ht's, as well as Summer Stock's advanced choreographer. Some of Karen's favorite shows included Showboat, Music Man, The King & I with Anne Blythe, Funny Girl and The Unsinkable Molly Brown with Carol Lawrence, and Ballroom with Janet Leigh. Karen loved serving and giving back to her community. She was a dance teacher and choreographer for many local high schools and the Indiana Pacemates. This led her to Bloomington, Indiana, where she founded the famous Indiana University RedSteppers in 1971. Karen served as the Director and lead choreographer for the RedSteppers until her retirement in 1992. Her crowning achievements were planning and choreographing half-time shows for all of IU's football games, as well as the bowl games during her tenure, including the Holiday Bowl, Peach Bowl, Liberty Bowl, and the Copper Bowl. Without a doubt, her stewardship of the RedSteppers was Karen's life-long passion, as well as the influential impact she made on hundreds of her RedStepper dancers. Karen enjoyed a wonderful and full life with her close family and friends. Her and her husband, John(Skeeter) Bailey, shared many adventures traveling the world, snow skiing, golfing with friends and family, and supporting philanthropic organizations including the Indianapolis 500 Festival, Riley Hospital for Children, The Ronald McDonald House, Kensington Club, Community Concerts and Tri Kappa. She is survived by her loving husband, John D. Bailey; daughter, Laura L. Roth (husband, Michael Roth); grandchildren Jon (17), Leigh Anne (15), and Kathryn (7); brother, J.B, Hayes (wife Anne Hayes). Karen is preceded in death by her daughter, Jonna Kae Bailey, and her mother and father, James and Ruth Hayes. Visitation will be at Leppert Mortuary, Nora Chapel on August 3, 2016, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., 740 E. 86th St., Indianapolis, IN 46260. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, August 4, 2016, at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 100 W. 86th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46260. Burial will follow funeral service at Oak Lawn Cemetery, 9700 Allisonville Rd, Indianapolis, Indiana. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the IU Foundation and mailed to PO Box 6460, Indianapolis, Indiana 46206-6260. Please designate that the contribution is for the benefit of the RedSteppers Fund at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.