After living and experiencing a long amazing life, Curtis Lynn Bailey of Midlothian, Virginia, passed away at the age of 89 on February 3, 2021 at Bon Secours Community Hospice House following a brief illness. Curt, also known as "Sarge", "Hardtimes" and "Pawpaw", was born on July 16, 1931, on a tobacco farm in Fort Mitchell, Virginia. He was the eleventh and youngest child of Jasper Hinton Bailey and Nannie Glidewell Bailey. He was preceded in death by his wife of almost 61 years, Shirley (Mawmaw) Chappell Bailey (Curt insists he and his bride NEVER had a fight in all those years!), as well as his parents and his siblings: Clarence, Charlie Allen, James (Jimmy), Albert (Earnest), Edward (Biggie), Joseph (Slim), Nellie Bailey Newcomb, Harriet Bailey Wilmoth, and Etna Bailey Lenhart; as well as their second born child, Curtis Lynn. Curt is survived by a sister, Frances Bailey Thompson, and six children: Deborah Ryan (Joe), Carol Walker (Jim), Anthony Bailey (Nancy), Belinda Creech, Elaine Stoll (Scott), and Jennifer Pasquantino (Dennis). Curt has 11 grandchildren who absolutely adored their Pawpaw: Joshua and Jacob (Alyson) Hernandez, Annalise Walker Sansouci (Jeff), Curtis and Ashley Bailey, Matthew Powell (Stephanie), Michelle Powell, Nicholas and Casey Stoll, Zachary (Logan) and Vinnie Pasquantino; as well as seven great-grandchildren: Laci Powell, Madelynn and Ethan Sansouci, Cheyenne and Matthew Powell, Jr, Rowan and LennoxPasquantino, and great-grandbaby #8 due in March! Curt enlisted in the Army in 1949 after leaving his parents' farm, swearing he would "never step foot on a tobacco field again in his life"...and he never did! He served in the Korean War, was stationed in Germany and Thailand, and received an honorable discharge in 1969. Curt subsequently was a very honest car salesman with Universal Ford in Richmond, Virginia, and he sold Cutco Cutlery, which he insisted are the "best knives in the world" and now several of his children still own those knives. In 1971, Sergeant Bailey began working at St. Emma Military Academy in Powhatan, Virginia, which was run by the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. Curt and his wife, Shirley, remained at St. Emma, also known as Belmead, for 25 years as caretakers of almost 2000 acres and multiple buildings. They raised black angus cattle, horses, pigs and chickens, as well as the occasional skunk, deer, raccoon, and rabbit (and probably a few hundred dogs and cats). Curt cared for and protected that land as if it were his own. After leaving St. Emma, Curt's love of children became even more evident as he became a bus driver for Chesterfield County, the YMCA and several local daycares. He is remembered so fondly by many of the children he came to know! Curt loved to sit on his deck and watch birds and squirrels, and walked at least 4 miles a day with his beloved black lab, Baytwo, every Monday through Friday, until 3 years ago. He was known for strolling around with his hands in his pockets, singing "Moon River". He was also considered to be the "most handsomest man in the world" by all of his grandchildren and he faithfully took his "pretty pills" daily to keep that reputation. In his final years, Curt was known for always complaining about "these stupid phones" that he could never figure out, and also blamed all his problems on the "muddy water" sloshing around in his head! He resided in Brandermill Woods for the last 3 years of his life and was seen everyday walking all over with his famous fashionable suspenders. He smiled and spoke to everyone! When staff were notified that he had passed away, many cried. Curt loved his family and grandchildren with all his heart...he loved riding them around on his tractors and having big Easter egg hunts with Mawmaw in his backyard. He taught his grandsons to carve a turkey and celebrated many a "39th" birthday in his dancing shoes with all the grandkids. He was passionate about watching his birds and squirrels, walking outsidewhenever he was able, and relaxing and taking short naps in his recliner. In his later years he enjoyed doing word search puzzles and playing bingo at Brandermill. He always joked with everyone about his Wild Turkey (which his family never actually saw him drink!) Many have said that Curt always asked about their families, and always had a funny story to share about something that happened recently in his world. Curt's family knows that he is now dancing in Heaven with Mawmaw and Baytwo! He's in his dancing shoes and dog-print suspenders, singing "Moon River" and holding a slice of that pie he never got to eat because someone else always ate it! You are so loved and missed daddy and Pawpaw!!! What a life well-lived! A Memorial Service and Celebration of Life honoring Curt will be held on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 2:00pm, at Bliley's Chippenham Chapel, with a Military Honor Guard and flag presentation. A livestream link of the service can be found at Blileys.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Richmond Animal League, online at https://www.ral.org or by mail at 11401 International Drive, Richmond, Virginia 23236 and the Alzheimer's Association online at https://www.alz.org or by mail at 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601.