ARTHUR L. BAILEY
‘The Lord answered my prayers on Wednesday July 13, 2005 and took me home after a hard fought battle with cancer.
I was born on June 27, 1940 in Polson, Montana, the son of Arthur L. & Blanche Noble Bailey, Sr., and was raised on a farm.
In 1957 I entered the U.S. Marine Corps, serving in Okinawa and the Far East. As a young Marine, I returned home to marry my high school sweetheart, Sheila DuPuis. We left Montana, for Southern California where we started our family. Soon after the birth of our second child, we move and found our home in the Skagit Valley. Here I began a 35 year career as a union ironworker, which took me from Alaska to Hawaii to New Hampshire and northwest Washington.
I was a member of the Ironworkers Union Locals 506 & 86 and a member of the United States Marine Corps League.
I enjoyed racing motorcycles with my son, Ken, rodeoing with my daughter, Debby, bowling with my wife, Sheila, hunting & fishing with my grandson and son-in-law, riding thrill rides with my granddaughters, racing sprint cars with my buddies and volunteering for Toys for Tots with my fellow Marines.
Sheila and I swam with dolphins, went parasailing, snorkeled in the ocean, went to flea markets and became familiar with the culture of each area on our numerous trips to Florida, Hawaii and Arizona as we searched for our ideal retirement lifestyle.
Upon retiring, I enjoyed watching my grandchildren compete in athletics when not snow-birding in Arizona.
I am survived by my loving wife of 46 years, Sheila at the family home in Sedro-Woolley. My son, Ken Bailey and his wife, Laurie of Spokane, WA and my daughter, Debby Minne and her husband Rick of Sedro-Woolley. My mother, Blanche Bailey of Polson, MT. My beloved grandchildren, Aubrey and Holly Bailey of Spokane and Seth Askvig and Bailey Jo Minne of Sedro-Woolley. 3 sisters, Lois Knutson and husband, Jim and Joanne Finch and husband, Bert of Polson, MT and Sally Cook of Ronan, MT. Also numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews survive me. I was preceded in death by my father, Art Bailey, Sr. and a sister, Doris Jennison.
I request that any memorials be made to the Marine Corps League Toys for Tots, P.O. Box 2292, Mount Vernon, WA 98273.’
Art was a very kind and gentle man, strong in character and principal who will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
SEMPER FI Art Bailey, WELL DONE.
A Life Celebration will be held at Lemley Chapel in Sedro-Woolley on Saturday, July 23, 2005 at 2:00 pm with Chaplain Robert Mulligan and members of the George Baldridge Post 43 American Legion providing military honors.
Share memories of Art and sign the online guest register at www.lemleychapel.com