John Charles Bailey

John Charles Bailey July 15, 1946 and passed away June 8, 2016. Born in Lebenon, Indiana to Joe Zenith Bailey and Margaret Ann Haughey Bailey, the family moved to Arizona of February 1960 to work with the family business, F.E. Bailey Construction.   He graduated in 1964 from Apache Junction High School, which was the very first graduating class.   He managed Maverick bar in Apache Junction, where he met the love of his life, Leola Stutes.  They married March 9, 1968.  Even after realizing she had 5 children to raise, he still wanted to marry her.  The children are Deborah, Carolyn, and he adopted the younger 3, Darrel, Lisa and Sherry.    He was a very hard working man, working 13 years at Allison Steel, opening his first business "Bailey Feed Store" in 1976, in Lakeside, AZ (now where the dog house thrift store is now located).  He built and opened a hotel right next to it, which is still in operation today. After 20 years, he sold these businesses and started another business out of their barn, "Bailey General Store", in Porter Creek.  He began this business with his grandsons, Joe, Josh and Bobby Joe.  Later his grandsons Eric, K.W., Garret and nephews Ray Jr. and Phillip came on board and are still working today.   Leola was diagnosed with Dementia in March 2013, and was not able to travel with him any longer to pick up metal, doors, windows, roofing ect.  At that time his ex-son-in-law, Wayne Pawlak, stepped up to help him make these long trips.   While he was in hospice, a nurse asked him, "other than work, what other hobbies do you like?"  To which he stated, "Even from a young age, I always believed in paying my own way."  Then he said, "I do like spoiling my grandkids, when I can because I couldn't do it with my own children.  I love and enjoy them all, so much!"   John took care of his wife as much as he could, even up to his last few days before passing away, he was making her and him oatmeal every morning.  His biggest regret was leaving her.    He loved all of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and two of his great- great-grandchildren, whom he had never met.    He will be loved and missed very much by so many family and great friends.   Survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Leola (Lee); four daughters, Deborah Billings, Carolyn and (Doug) York, Sherry and (Kenny) McCloud all from Apache Junction, AZ and Lisa and (Bobby) Seitz from Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ.  Eight grandchildren, Eric (Lisa) Gandy, K.W. Harden, Christy King, Joseph (Marlana) Seitz, Joshua (Carolina) Seitz, Bobby Joe (Crystal) Seitz, Tosha (Glen) Hale and Garret (Jessica) McCloud; Seventeen great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild, Lucas;  Two sisters, Anna Jo (Raymond) Morris of Linden, AZ and Linda Schwaiger of Show Low, AZ;  One brother, Tom Bailey of Queen Creek, AZ and a foster brother, Darrell (Marrieta) Baker of Ohio as well as many other aunts, uncles, neices, nephews, cousins and loving friends.   He is proceeded in death by his loving mother, Margaret Ann (Haughey) Bailey and father, Joe Zenith Bailey; son, Darrel Bailey; grandson, Kenneth William Harden (K.W.), and two sons-in-laws, Buddy Harden and Travis Billings and many other family and friends.   Services to be held 1:00 P.M. Thursday, June 16, 2016 at the Blueridge Christian Center, 184 W. White Mountain Blvd., in Lakeside, AZ.  A luncheon and a time of fellowship will follow after the service.   In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to two organizations that became close to him the last few months.  Cancer Society and Accord Hospice, or any other you feel special about.