Wilbur Metroken “Willie” Bailey Jr.

Do – Wen – Eb

Willie passed away at the age of 25 in La Conner, Washington January 5, 2024.  Willie was born to Wilbur M. Bailey Sr. and Barbra Esther Bailey on May 29, 1998 in Mount Vernon, WA.  He was their third child and the only son.  Willie had three sisters, Kathryne Ann, Barbra May and Jenny Alfreda Bailey.  He grew up on the Upper Skagit Reservation and attended school in the Sedro-Woolley School District.  He also attended The Columbia Basin Job Corp.  Growing up, Willie enjoyed playing in the Sedro-Woolley Youth Football league which he played in Pee Wee and midgets.  As a teen, he enjoyed playing basketball, helping at the smokehouse and Shaker Church.  You would also find him playing cards and jamming out to music and drawing.  He loved spending time with his sisters and the rest of his family.  And he loved his smoke.  At times, growing up, you would find him drawing.  He also enjoyed going to visit family; one place they always visited was his late Auntie Lois.

Willie attended Columbia Basin Job Corps in Moses Lake, where he worked on getting his GED and learning how to dry wall amongst other things.  He was a commercial fisherman which he did with his grandpa, Harlan Sam Sr. and other family members.  He lived all his life in Upper Skagit and spent time at Swinomish where he got involved with the Canoe journey life and dancing; his first-time dancing was in 2011, which was the first year Swinomish hosted canoe journey.

Willie is preceded in death by his grandparents, Bobby & Beetle Bailey; grandmother, Darlene Sam; uncles, Jim Smith Jr, Michael Smith Sr., Sam Bailey and Levi Paul Sr.; cousins, Cassandra Sam, Snow Sam and Desmond Paul Jr.

He is survived by his parents, Wilbur Bailey of Swinomish and Barbra Bailey of Upper Skagit; sisters, Katie, Barbra and Jenny; grandfather, Harlan Sam Sr. of Upper Skagit; god parents, Bonnie Sam, Myrtle & Tom Rivas, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

“RIP SON FLY HIGH”

Prayer services will be Monday January 8, 2024 at 6pm at Upper Skagit Gymnasium, Sedro-Woolley, WA.; Funeral Service Tuesday January 9 at 9am at Upper Skagit Gymnasium.  Interment will be at Upper Skagit Cemetery in Hamilton WA. Share your memories of Willie and sign the on-line guest register.

The family would like to thank you for all of your love and support during our time of loss, the Bailey and Sam Family.