Vern Bailey, 64, also known as "Bucky" or "Beetle" to family and friends, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, May 17, 2014, after a series of health problems.
A graveside service will be held at Fort Harrison in Helena at noon Thursday, May 22, with a celebration of his life to be held in Missoula at a date and location to be determined.
Born on Sept. 25, 1949, in Sidney, Vern was the middle of Vern C. and Josey Bailey's five children. He grew up in Opportunity and attended Anaconda High School before finishing his schooling in Sacramento, Calif. Shortly after, he enlisted in the U. S. Army and served two tours of duty in Vietnam, and was awarded the Bronze Star and Silver Star, among other decorations.
In 1974, Vern married Gail Walund, and in 21 years of marriage, they raised one son, Jason. After a brief time as an "Army family" living at the White Sands Missile Range Army Base in New Mexico, the family moved back to Montana, ending up in Helena. It was here that Vern began work as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, where he excelled. He earned several safe driver awards, became an active leader in the union, and was beloved by his co-workers and customers alike.
In 1996, he was badly injured in a motorcycle accident, and the family was told there was no chance of recovery. Yet Vern amazingly defied the odds and emerged from his coma. Although he would spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair, he was "tougher than a $2 steak" and remarkably and successfully beat numerous other health scares, incredibly living for another 18 years.
Vern refused to let his broken body break his spirit, and remained full of life. He became a vocal and active advocate for the mobility challenged, working to bring about safer street-crossing conditions and helping many to register and vote by absentee ballot. For his efforts, he was given an "Outstanding Citizen" award, and was featured on the local news and on the front page of the Missoulian.
Vern was beloved by everyone who knew him. He was well known for his kindness and generosity. He loved to make people laugh, and was a natural born entertainer who could sing as well as play guitar and drums. He loved music, especially country western and ‘50s rock ‘n' roll, and was a loyal Dallas Cowboys fan. He will be missed.
Vern was preceded in death by his father, Vernice Claud Bailey.
He is survived by his mother, Josey G. "Nanee Jose" Bailey; his son, Jason Bailey; his sisters, Bonnie (Arthur "Phil") Phillips, DeLoras (Mike) Kallas and Rosemary Johnson; his brothers, James (Trude) Bailey and Donald (Debbie) Bailey; and numerous aunts, nephews, nieces and cousins.
Express condolences at www.mtstandard.com/obits
A graveside service will be held at Fort Harrison in Helena at noon Thursday, May 22, with a celebration of his life to be held in Missoula at a date and location to be determined.
Born on Sept. 25, 1949, in Sidney, Vern was the middle of Vern C. and Josey Bailey's five children. He grew up in Opportunity and attended Anaconda High School before finishing his schooling in Sacramento, Calif. Shortly after, he enlisted in the U. S. Army and served two tours of duty in Vietnam, and was awarded the Bronze Star and Silver Star, among other decorations.
In 1974, Vern married Gail Walund, and in 21 years of marriage, they raised one son, Jason. After a brief time as an "Army family" living at the White Sands Missile Range Army Base in New Mexico, the family moved back to Montana, ending up in Helena. It was here that Vern began work as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, where he excelled. He earned several safe driver awards, became an active leader in the union, and was beloved by his co-workers and customers alike.
In 1996, he was badly injured in a motorcycle accident, and the family was told there was no chance of recovery. Yet Vern amazingly defied the odds and emerged from his coma. Although he would spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair, he was "tougher than a $2 steak" and remarkably and successfully beat numerous other health scares, incredibly living for another 18 years.
Vern refused to let his broken body break his spirit, and remained full of life. He became a vocal and active advocate for the mobility challenged, working to bring about safer street-crossing conditions and helping many to register and vote by absentee ballot. For his efforts, he was given an "Outstanding Citizen" award, and was featured on the local news and on the front page of the Missoulian.
Vern was beloved by everyone who knew him. He was well known for his kindness and generosity. He loved to make people laugh, and was a natural born entertainer who could sing as well as play guitar and drums. He loved music, especially country western and ‘50s rock ‘n' roll, and was a loyal Dallas Cowboys fan. He will be missed.
Vern was preceded in death by his father, Vernice Claud Bailey.
He is survived by his mother, Josey G. "Nanee Jose" Bailey; his son, Jason Bailey; his sisters, Bonnie (Arthur "Phil") Phillips, DeLoras (Mike) Kallas and Rosemary Johnson; his brothers, James (Trude) Bailey and Donald (Debbie) Bailey; and numerous aunts, nephews, nieces and cousins.
Express condolences at www.mtstandard.com/obits
Vern Bailey, 64, also known as "Bucky" or "Beetle" to family and friends, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, May 17, 2014, after a series of health problems.
A graveside service will be held at Fort Harrison in Helena at noon Thursday, May 22, with a celebration of his life to be held in Missoula at a date and location to be determined.
Born on Sept. 25, 1949, in Sidney, Vern was the middle of Vern C. and Josey Bailey's five children. He grew up in Opportunity and attended Anaconda High School before finishing his schooling in Sacramento, Calif. Shortly after, he enlisted in the U. S. Army and served two tours of duty in Vietnam, and was awarded the Bronze Star and Silver Star, among other decorations.
In 1974, Vern married Gail Walund, and in 21 years of marriage, they raised one son, Jason. After a brief time as an "Army family" living at the White Sands Missile Range Army Base in New Mexico, the family moved back to Montana, ending up in Helena. It was here that Vern began work as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, where he excelled. He earned several safe driver awards, became an active leader in the union, and was beloved by his co-workers and customers alike.
In 1996, he was badly injured in a motorcycle accident, and the family was told there was no chance of recovery. Yet Vern amazingly defied the odds and emerged from his coma. Although he would spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair, he was "tougher than a $2 steak" and remarkably and successfully beat numerous other health scares, incredibly living for another 18 years.
Vern refused to let his broken body break his spirit, and remained full of life. He became a vocal and active advocate for the mobility challenged, working to bring about safer street-crossing conditions and helping many to register and vote by absentee ballot. For his efforts, he was given an "Outstanding Citizen" award, and was featured on the local news and on the front page of the Missoulian.
Vern was beloved by everyone who knew him. He was well known for his kindness and generosity. He loved to make people laugh, and was a natural born entertainer who could sing as well as play guitar and drums. He loved music, especially country western and ‘50s rock ‘n' roll, and was a loyal Dallas Cowboys fan. He will be missed.
Vern was preceded in death by his father, Vernice Claud Bailey.
He is survived by his mother, Josey G. "Nanee Jose" Bailey; his son, Jason Bailey; his sisters, Bonnie (Arthur "Phil") Phillips, DeLoras (Mike) Kallas and Rosemary Johnson; his brothers, James (Trude) Bailey and Donald (Debbie) Bailey; and numerous aunts, nephews, nieces and cousins.
Express condolences at www.mtstandard.com/obits
A graveside service will be held at Fort Harrison in Helena at noon Thursday, May 22, with a celebration of his life to be held in Missoula at a date and location to be determined.
Born on Sept. 25, 1949, in Sidney, Vern was the middle of Vern C. and Josey Bailey's five children. He grew up in Opportunity and attended Anaconda High School before finishing his schooling in Sacramento, Calif. Shortly after, he enlisted in the U. S. Army and served two tours of duty in Vietnam, and was awarded the Bronze Star and Silver Star, among other decorations.
In 1974, Vern married Gail Walund, and in 21 years of marriage, they raised one son, Jason. After a brief time as an "Army family" living at the White Sands Missile Range Army Base in New Mexico, the family moved back to Montana, ending up in Helena. It was here that Vern began work as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, where he excelled. He earned several safe driver awards, became an active leader in the union, and was beloved by his co-workers and customers alike.
In 1996, he was badly injured in a motorcycle accident, and the family was told there was no chance of recovery. Yet Vern amazingly defied the odds and emerged from his coma. Although he would spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair, he was "tougher than a $2 steak" and remarkably and successfully beat numerous other health scares, incredibly living for another 18 years.
Vern refused to let his broken body break his spirit, and remained full of life. He became a vocal and active advocate for the mobility challenged, working to bring about safer street-crossing conditions and helping many to register and vote by absentee ballot. For his efforts, he was given an "Outstanding Citizen" award, and was featured on the local news and on the front page of the Missoulian.
Vern was beloved by everyone who knew him. He was well known for his kindness and generosity. He loved to make people laugh, and was a natural born entertainer who could sing as well as play guitar and drums. He loved music, especially country western and ‘50s rock ‘n' roll, and was a loyal Dallas Cowboys fan. He will be missed.
Vern was preceded in death by his father, Vernice Claud Bailey.
He is survived by his mother, Josey G. "Nanee Jose" Bailey; his son, Jason Bailey; his sisters, Bonnie (Arthur "Phil") Phillips, DeLoras (Mike) Kallas and Rosemary Johnson; his brothers, James (Trude) Bailey and Donald (Debbie) Bailey; and numerous aunts, nephews, nieces and cousins.
Express condolences at www.mtstandard.com/obits
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