David Newton Bailey, 81, of Beaumont, passed away on Thursday, January 22, 2015. Born on December 7, 1933, to Newton and Muriel Williams Bailey, David attended Texas A&M University, Class of '56. He was intimately involved in the Aggie Tradition from a young age, as a member of the Corps of Cadets and a Yell Leader, and later as a proud Former Student who rarely missed a Fightin' Texas Aggie football game. After graduation, he served in the Army Reserves and then joined the workforce as a mechanical engineer, with a longtime career at Mobil Oil and a "retirement" at Richard Design Services, Inc. Well-respected in his work and known for his love of travel, David was actively engaged in both pursuits until his death.
David is survived by his adoring wife, Carolynn Gay Bailey, with whom he visited more than 50 countries and nearly every U.S. state during their 47 years of marriage; his brother, Melvin Bailey, and his wife, Linda, of Beaumont, along with their daughters: Becky Bailey, of Beaumont; and Melinda Bailey Goodson and her husband, Jeff, and children Alex and Erik Bergval and Cole Goodson, of Sour Lake; and his cousin Lee Mary Kobayashi, of Houston. He also leaves behind four daughters who thought he hung the moon and polished it: Julie Ann Bailey Radley and her husband, Donald, of Sour Lake; Gay Bailey Hill and her husband, Gary, of Beaumont; Julie Patricia Bailey Golias and her husband, Mark, of Beaumont; and Laura Bailey Bridges and her husband, James, of Beaumont.
David's grandchildren and great-grandchildren were his most prized possessions and his biggest fans, and he loved to show them the world: Ashley Radley Harvey and her husband, Derek, and children Delaney and Ryland, of Sour Lake; Whitney Radley and her husband, Bradley Kerl, of Houston; Gary "Coppy" Hill, of Oklahoma City; Bailey Radley, of Houston; Carrie Hill Zihlman and her husband, Kurt, and daughter Ellie, of Dallas; Hannah Radley, of Houston; Callie Hill, of Beaumont; Brant Burns, of College Station; Dustin Burns, Caroline Bridges, Carly Burns, and Grace Bridges, all of Beaumont.
He is preceded in death by his parents and his nephew, Bill Bailey.
A gathering of Mr. Bailey's family and friends will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Saturday, January 24, 2015, at Broussard's, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. His funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, January 25, 2015, at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, 1350 North 23rd Street, Beaumont, with interment to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Beaumont.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Southeast Texas A&M Foundation in honor of David Bailey, P.O. Box 22902, Beaumont, Texas, 77720-2902.
