Hunter Joseph Bailey, age 24, passed away August 16, 2023 at his home in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

He was born March 9, 1999 in Sikeston, Missouri, son of Robert Scott Bailey and Cynthia Anne Roberts Bailey of Matthews, Missouri.

Hunter was a member of the Morehouse Community Church, a graduate of New Madrid High School, where he was on the football team, wrestling team, a member of Singing Eagles Choir, and a variety of academic clubs. He was enrolled in Southeast Missouri State University, focusing his degree on history education, he was a member of the Theta Xi Fraternity, and was working as an Associate for Target.

In addition to his parents, Hunter is survived by one sister, Breanna Bailey of Matthews, Missouri; his grandparents, Roger Roberts of Belleview, Missouri, Vicky Bailey of Matthews, Missouri, and Gina Vandever of Matthews, Missouri; two aunts, Dana Thurman of East Prairie, Missouri and Angela Sherry Roberts of Belleview, Missouri; and cousins, Brittnay Copeland, Andrew Harbison, Tyler Gentles, Meghan Moore, Blake Copeland, Eli Cain, Kurstin Burleson, and Kaylee Copeland.

He was preceded in death by one grandfather, Joe Bob Bailey.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, August 22, from 12 noon until time of funeral services at 2:00 p.m. at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston.  Toni Dee will be officiating.

Burial will follow at the Matthews Cemetery in Matthews, Missouri.

Pallbearers will be Jacob Keene, Caleb Austin, Thomas Akins, Brady Stobaugh, Darius Austin, John Benson, Devon Sanders, Jacob Smith, and Dominic Ruggeri.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Rhiley Smith, Jordan Lynn, Brian Sylvester, Alex Pointer, Dylan Curry, Jaden Clark, Seth Baumann, Kayne McCormick, Ross Kasting, John Duffy, Mac Brda, Kory Strickland, Jackson McGraw, Ryan Standley, KJ Washington, Gavin Mueller, Evan O'Connell, Antonio Anderson, Joseph Momo, Henry Kaiser, Ben Steelman, Brandon Waynick, Bryant Vaughn, Montay Frost, John Paul Rodebaugh, Thomas Sheehan, Big Country, Zach Leeuwenburg, David Graham, Curtis Anderson, Tyler Robinson, Eric Neilson, Andy Behrman, Zach Tate, Jordan Renaud, Zach Phillip, Rafael Takeda, Joy Scanga, Harrison Glover, Bryce Miller, Ben Huss, Nick Agusti, Kelvin Johnson, Sam Naile, Jacob Smith, Seth Baumann, Pierre Pettis, Trent Blanton, Luke Miller, Cam Neuman, Andrew DeVore, and Daesean Sanders.