09/15/2026
Obituary for Dr. Richard Ray Dailey (December 7, 1951 - June 29, 2026)
Richard “Dick” Dailey, D.O., a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, proud Air Force veteran, and cherished family physician, passed away on June 29th, 2026 at the age of 74. He leaves behind a legacy of kindness, selfless service, and dedication to his family, his country, and his patients.
Born in Ottumwa, Iowa to James and Carol Dailey, he grew up working on the family farm, an upbringing that was a lifelong source of immense pride for him. The values of the Iowa countryside shaped his very core, teaching him the worth of hard work, resilience, and neighborly kindness. It was on the farm that he learned to always lend a helping hand, a trait that would define his character as a man and a physician.
Richard carried that foundational work ethic into his higher education and ultimate calling: osteopathic medicine. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology in May 1974 from Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State University), where he laid the groundwork for his future leadership in the ROTC program and shared brotherhood in Tau Kappa Epsilon. He then advanced to the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (A.T. Still University), graduating as a Doctor of Osteopathy in May 1978. His exceptional potential was recognized early on as a U.S. Air Force Scholarship Recipient, beginning a path of dedicating his life to treating the whole person with empathy and exceptional care.
He blended his love for medicine and his country by serving as a General Medical Officer and Flight Surgeon in the United States Air Force. Achieving the rank of major, he served alongside the brave and ensured the health and safety of his fellow airmen, a period of service to the USA and his fellow compatriots that instilled a deep sense of duty he carried forever.
Following his military service, Dr. Dailey dedicated himself entirely to family medicine. To him, being a physician was never just a job, it was his true purpose and calling. He began his civilian career serving patients in his own practice in Overland Park, Kansas, before expanding his reach as a traveling doctor with Docs Who Care, bringing vital physician services to underserved areas. He then brought his decades of expertise and compassionate care to the close-knit community of Ellett Memorial Hospital in Appleton City, Missouri, where he truly enjoyed the spirit of his small town roots by taking the time to truly know every patient and providing essential healthcare to an appreciative community. He was a physician who always jumped at the opportunity to help, treating every patient like a member of his own family.
Beyond his profession as a busy physician, Richard was a man of immense intellect, a true lifelong learner who possessed a wealth of knowledge about absolutely everything. He had a passion for sharing that wisdom, and never missed an opportunity to tell a good story, captivating anyone who would listen. An avid enthusiast of genealogy, he spent countless hours researching his ancestry, connecting the dots of the past to preserve his family's history. He was also a passionate sports fan, always ready to cheer on his favorite teams and talk about stats alongside those he loved, and occasionally rubbing elbows with the Big Wigs, like playing golf with Bart Starr.
However, Richard’s greatest joy in life was his family. Even with his deep commitment to his medical career, he made it his priority to be present, active, and fully engaged in their lives. He poured himself into his children's worlds, proudly coaching and cheering on their sports teams, playing (and winning) many rounds of golf, packing up the car for family road trips, grilling on the deck, taking them to sporting events, and shooting hoops in the driveway long after the sun went down.
He was a deeply devoted husband and a proud, supportive father and grandfather who filled his home with laughter, affection, and an ever-ready helping hand. His generosity and willingness to help were truly unmatched. Richard was always the first to show up whenever his kids needed him. Whether he was arriving in his truck to help them move, carrying his trusty orange bucket of tools to fix a household problem, or spending hours helping with yard work, he never once complained. Instead, he was always genuinely happy to help and fill the time with laughter and stories of the past. Above all, Richard never let a moment pass without letting his family know how proud he was of them. He constantly reminded them of his love, anchoring every departure and reunion with the biggest, warmest hugs and a gentle kiss on the head.
In his later years, nothing brought a bigger smile to his face than watching his grandchildren grow up. He was a man who gave everything and asked for nothing in return. Whether he was grabbing coffee with his granddaughters or pushing his grandsons in a wagon at the farmstead, he found his ultimate happiness simply by spending quality time with those he loved most.
True to form, Richard’s final act of service to mankind was to donate his earthly body parts, so that others would have the opportunity to live and flourish with his passing.
He is survived by his wife, Kathryn-Arbuckle-Higdon-Dailey; his children, Cole Dailey, Jade Gutschenritter and her husband Dallas; his Stepchildren, Nathaniel Higdon and Kaleb Higdon and his wife Elisabeth; his 5 grandchildren, Darby, Reagan, Lucian, Lochlan, and Theodore (Teddy); a loving family of siblings, nieces, nephews, and a community of grateful patients and lifelong friends. He was preceded in death by his parents James and Carol Dailey.
Dr. Dailey is dearly missed by his friends and co-workers at EMH and AC Rural Health Clinic.
