Charles Walter Dailey died Jan. 4, 2023, at his home in Raymore at the age of 83, after a long illness, surrounded by family.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at Cullen Funeral Home, 612 W. Foxwood Dr. Raymore, Missouri 64083. Officiating was Pastor Bobby Dailey. Charles was laid to rest at Belton Cemetery.
He was born May 16, 1939 in Manila, Ark,, the son of James Berkley and Frances Trudy Williams Dailey. Charles married Peggy Cason, Dec. 31, 1960, in Fillmore, Calif., They have four children, Michael (Chris) Dailey, John Dailey, Patricia (Shawn) Nichols, and Carol (Michael) Clark, 11 grandchildren, Kim Palmer (Jake), Mark Thompson, Tyler Dailey, Shelby (Josh) Gassen, Hunter (Sierra) Dailey, Dalton Dailey, Rachel (Andy) Novak, Cole Nichols, Paul Clark, Ryan (Lauren) Clark, Haley Clark and twelve great-grandchildren. They purchased a home in Belton in 1984, where they lived a wonderful life for 38 years.
Charles used his nickname, Chuck, among family and friends. He joined the US Army National Guard of Missouri and served two years. Chuck joined the U. S. Marine Corps in 1959 and underwent recruit training in San Diego, California. Chuck’s tours of duty included duty stations at Camp Pendleton, Calif.; Yokosuka, Japan; Vietnam, Arlington, Va.; New Orleans; Camp Lejeune, N.C.; Kansas City, Mo.; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He served three tours of duty in Vietnam in 1968-1969. Chuck assumed the duties of the Sergeant Major, Marine Corps Finance Center in 1984 where he remained until his retirement. During his career in the USMC, Chuck earned numerous medals and awards. His combat history, expedition, and awards records are lengthy. His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Achievement Medal with Gold Star and Combat V, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation with one Star, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Good Conduct Medal ninth award, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnamese Service Medal with three stars, Humanitarian Service Unit Commendation, Vietnamese Campaign Medal and his last decoration upon retirement in May of 1987, the Navy Commendation Medal from the Department of the Navy. Chuck retired from USMC after serving 28 years, in 1987.
After Chuck’s retirement from the Marine Corps in 1987, he began his second career with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency’s Cotton Loan program. This program assisted with price support to Cotton Cooperatives and Loan Service Agents. Chuck began as a Management Analyst and retired in 2000 as a Branch Chief. Chuck led the way for programs that are used today at USDA. For his efforts, Chuck received several accolades and awards. The most notable was the receiving of the Administrator’s Award for Service to Agriculture in 1990.
As one of his early projects with USDA, in 1988 Chuck led the development of the Automated Cotton Reporting System (ACRS), which automated the processing of Cotton Price Support Loans for Cotton Cooperatives and Loan Service Agents. From 1990 to 1994 Chuck was involved in the implementation of the County Office Cotton Enhancement Project (COCEP), which served as a pilot program for several improvements in the Cotton Price Support Loan program. In the late 1990’s Chuck led the development of one of the Farm Service Agency’s first web-based systems, the Cotton On-Line Processing System (COPS). For the 2021 crop year, over $2.1 billion in cotton price support loans were made. Many of the systems which process these loans today had their origins during Chuck’s career and were influenced by his leadership and vision in the area of Cotton Price Support automation. Chuck introduced leading edge technology to cotton programs and provided superior customer service. Chuck was dedicated to the cotton program and made a full circle from his picking cotton days as a youth working in the fields with his father to assisting the cotton industry on behalf of his work at USDA.
Surviving family members are his brothers, James Mac, Jerry, Bobby (Patsy) Dailey, his sisters, Martha Carpenter, Mary (Lou) Hodges and Judy (Jim) Coon, and many nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death, his parents and his brother, Benny Dailey.
The following is an excerpt from Chuck’s memoirs. “To my wonderful family, if I had to choose between loving you and breathing, I would use my last breath to tell you I Love You.”
Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home,
Raymore, Missouri 816-322-5278
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