Joseph Paul Bailey

Joseph Paul Bailey “Tater” passed away peacefully at his home January 7, 2016 from ALS.
Paul was born March 9, 1949 to Reese and Celia Bailey. He lived in Wellsville his whole life. Paul graduated from Sky View High School in 1967 where he participated in wrestling, football and baseball. At the age of 18 Paul volunteered for the draft. He served a total of nineteen months in the Army with fourteen of those months as helicopter door gunner on active duty in Vietnam. He ended his rank as an E5 “Buck Sergeant” and also received awards for his bravery and heroism. Paul also served and retired from the Utah National Guard.
Paul married his sweetheart, Rebecca Jane Bailey, on April 14, 1972 in the Logan LDS Temple. They have lived in Mt. Sterling where he has touched many lives with his never ending service of helping neighbors and friends.
Paul had a very successful career at Hill Air Force Base where he worked for 30 years. Paul had many supervisor positions and ended his career as an Aircraft Division Chief over the C-130s. Paul was able to completely enjoy life after his retirement. He spent a brief time working for Agri-Service where he made many friends and spent more than he made! He spent many hours farming with his son Matt and hunting and fishing with his friends. He loved to take his Grandkids on Ranger rides or sit and play poker with them at the kitchen table. Paul was an amazing husband, father and grandfather. There was never a dull moment when he was around. He loved to play jokes on people, and he also had some good ones played on him. He and Becky would drive hours to support their grandkids in sporting events, concerts, dance reviews or to celebrate birthdays with them.
Paul was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He held numerous church callings, the most recent being a cub scout leader and Sunday school teacher of the 17 year olds, which he loved. He served diligently as a faithful home teacher until his recent decline in health. He loved the families he taught and served them faithfully. He had a strong belief in both God and his Country. His patriotism has been a great blessing and example to his family and friends. He served his community by helping put flags on the headstones of Veterans for many years.
Paul is preceded in death by his parents Reese and Celia Bailey, and his father and mother in law, Leslie and Olive Bailey. He is survived by his eternal companion Becky, his siblings Deann Haslam (Jerry), Lana Simmonds (the late Jerry) , Mark Bailey (Polly), and his children Heidi Cranney (Arden), Oakley, ID, Matt Bailey (Delene), Mt. Sterling, UT, Amanda Hall (Chris), Portage, UT, Meagan Branch (Willy) Bothwell, UT, also his 13 Grandchildren who will miss him dearly , the oldest grandson presently serving a LDS mission in the Farmington New Mexico mission.
Funeral Services will be at 11:00 AM on Monday January 11, 2016 at the Wellsville Stake Center, 30 South Center in Wellsville. A viewing will be held Sunday, January 10 from 6-8 PM. at the Allen Hall Mortuary, 34 E. Center St. in Logan and 9:30-10:30 AM prior to services on Monday at the Stake Center. Condolences and thoughts may be expressed online at www.allenmortuaries.net .