Lauren Dee "Howdy" Bayley

LAUREN DEE "HOWDY" BAYLEY, 73, of Ogallala, passed away at the Ogallala Community Hospital.

Howdy was born February 27, 1949, at Ogallala, Nebraska to Lauren and Kathleen (Kildare) Bayley. He attended St. Luke's Catholic School, then St. John's Seminary at Elkhorn, NE; after two years, he returned to Ogallala and graduated with the class of 1967. Howdy followed in his brother Gary's footsteps, enlisting in the U.S. Navy.

Following his discharge, he went to work for the Union Pacific Railroad laying rail. On May 15, 1993, Howdy married Connie Peterson at Ogallala. He continued to work for the railroad, working up to the position of engineer in a career that spanned nearly 42 years.

Howdy was an avid golfer and Yankees fan.

Howdy was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Gary in 2019.

Survivors include his wife, Connie of Ogallala; daughters, Reggie Skinner (Jeff Gette) of Ogallala; Steele (John) Sich of Kearney; grandchildren, Tetly and Ralston Moore, Brock and Merritt Skinner, and Pryce Gette; aunt, Dorie (Jim) Lee of Elsie; nephew, Brent (Kat) Bayley and their children Sophie and Collin; uncle, Rod Bayley; numerous cousins; along with many other relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the St. Luke's Catholic Church or Ogallala Legion Baseball Post 135 in Howdy's memory. Condolences may be shared at prairiehillsfuneralhome.com, where the services will be streamed live.

Funeral Mass will be on Monday, June 6, 2022, at 10:00 am at St. Luke's Catholic Church in Ogallala with Fr. Bryan Ernest as Celebrant. Interment with military honors provided by the Keith County Veterans' Organization will be in the Ogallala Cemetery.

Visitation will be on Sunday, June 5, 2022, from 3 pm until 5 pm at St. Luke's Catholic Church, with a Rosary and wake service beginning at 5 pm.

Prairie Hills Funeral Home of Ogallala is in charge of arrangements.