- Date Of Birth: June 13, 1935
- Date Of Death: April 28, 2013
- State: Indiana
Thomas Bernard Bailey Sr., 77, following a lengthy illness, peacefully passed away surrounded by his loving family, Sunday April 28, 2013 at his home in Greenwood.
Thomas was the oldest son of the late Carl Bernard and Ada May (Featherston) Bailey, born on June 13, 1935 in Clinton, Kentucky. The family moved to St. Louis, Missouri and then to Indianapolis while he was a boy. Tom left home at the age of 15 and worked on various horse racing tracks in Kentucky and the New England states. Upon his return to Indiana, he met Shirley Kincade on a double date with friends and they married on May 18, 1956, they were married for 56 years. He and Shirley moved their family from Indianapolis in 1966 to a ten acre farm in Bargersville, where he farmed while working full time at Mitchell & Scott Machine Company. He raised livestock and had a large garden every year.
Tom was proud of his family and took great satisfaction that he had instilled good work ethics in his children. He also enjoyed having his immediate and extended family nearby and the farm was the site of many family gatherings over the years.
After 30 years at Mitchell & Scott Company, Tom took an early retirement in 1986. Retirement provided opportunities to pursue his many other interests, including raising standard bred horses for harness racing, Australian Shepherd dogs, refurbishing tractors, trapping and fishing. He enjoyed gardening, where their yard was full of beautiful flowers. He was also able to help three of his children with construction of their homes. He and Shirley enjoyed meeting friends for meals at Hardee’s, Denny’s and other restaurants and cherished those friendships.
Tom is survived by his wife, Shirley Bailey, five children, Susie (Joe) Stroud, Tom (Cindy) Bailey, Diane (Gary) Sweeney, Linda (Alan) Wright and Brett (Brenda) Bailey, six grandchildren, Nathan (Kristy) Stroud, Ben(Cari) Stroud and Jacob(Leisy) Stroud, Katie Strunk, Lauren and Cole Hart three great-grandchildren, Bailey and Wyatt Stroud and Jude Strunk; six siblings, Willena Hodge, Margie Wright, Ida Burgdoft, Billy Bailey, Betty Marcum and Terry Bailey.
He was preceded in death by brother-in-law, Bob Hodge; daughter-in-law, Gerri Bailey and granddaughter, Bethany Bailey.
