Raelen J. Miller Bayless

Raelen J. Miller Bayless, 29, of Springfield, and formerly of Villa Ridge, died at 5:13 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009, at her home in Springfield.

She was born on Sept. 4, 1980, in Cape Girardeau, the daughter of Ray D. Miller and Carolyn Jackson Miller.

She was a correction officer with the Lincoln Correction Center in Lincoln. She was a 1998 graduate of Meridian High School in Mounds, where she was very active in softball, basketball and was in an acting class in Chicago.

Survivors include her parents, Ray Miller and Carolyn Miller of Villa Ridge; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Darrell and Marilyn Miller of Brawley, Calif., Tracy R. and Sherry Miller of Cape Girardeau; two sisters Carol G. George and Randy George of Grand Chain and Cindy D. Miller and Kevin Calvin of Villa Ridge; maternal grandparents Dallas Jackson Sr. of Mounds and Pat and Harold Schmarje of Jackson, Mo.; nieces Meredith Littrell, Heide Watson and Haley Hefner; nephews J.B. George, Jerrod (Tiffany) George and Drake Persinger; several aunts, uncles and other relatives.

At the request of the family, funeral services will be private at Jones Funeral Home in Villa Ridge with the Rev. Scott Kelley officiating, with interment following in the Miller Family Cemetery in America, Ill.

Memorials can be made to American Legion Post No. 178, attention George Nelson, 199 Mason Rd., Villa Ridge, Ill. 62996, or the Southern Illinois Pet Society, c/o Birdie Conant, 726 Wessenberg Rd., Villa Ridge, Ill. 62996.

Jones Funeral Home in Villa Ridge is in charge of arrangements.