Leon Mcclung Bailey

Leon McClung Bailey

Services for Leon Bailey will be held Sunday, March 26, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home, with Reverend Tom Sikes officiating.

Mr. Bailey, age 90, of Bailey, passed away March 24 at his home.

Leon was the 3rd of six generations of the Bailey family to reside in the Bailey community, which was named for his grandfather, the first postmaster.

He was an avid golfer and a member of Northwood Country Club for over sixty years, where he made eleven hole-in-one, playing well into his late seventies.

At age 17, he was among the last of the “Greatest Generation” vets to serve their country in the military. Leon served as a Navy gunner on a patrol craft during WWII. After his military service, he returned to Bailey and continued to operate the family business, later getting into land development and established the first rural subdivision in Lauderdale County in 1969. Never retiring, he was still active in his late eighties managing his various business interests. Leon was a lifelong member of Gum Log Primitive Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon.

Leon is survived by his wife of seventy years, Prue Miller Bailey; son, Leon M. (Diane) Bailey, Jr, of Ripley; daughter-in-law, Karla Billingsley Bailey, of Bailey; grandsons, Elliott Bailey, of Atlanta, and Nathan (Alisha) Bailey, of Bailey; granddaughters, Lauren Bailey (Jody) Steverson, of Ripley, MS, and Anna Bailey (Bill) Whitmire, of Collierville, TN, and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by sons, David Alison Bailey and Robert Preston Bailey.

Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at robertbarhamffh.com.

The family requests memorials be made to Gum Log Primitive Baptist Church, 5450 Trick Talbert Road, Bailey, MS 39320.

Visitation will be held Sunday, March 26, from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. prior to service.