Russell Eugene Bailey

Russell Eugene “Gene” Bailey was born June 6, 1939 to Floyd and LaVaughn Bailey in Henry County, Indiana. Surrounded by family, Gene died quietly Wednesday morning January 26, 2022 at his home in Ft Collins, Colorado. He was the oldest of four children and was preceded in death by his sister, Linda (Bailey) Wheeler, and is survived by his brothers Jim Bailey of Alamosa, Colorado and Ronnie Bailey of Carrolton, Georgia. Gene is also survived by his beloved wife of 64-1/2 years, Judy (Whiteman) Bailey, his daughter Pam (Bailey) Powell of Monument, Colorado, and his sons Brad Bailey of Monument, Colorado, and Rusty Bailey of Ft Collins, Colorado.

Gene was born prematurely when his mother fell down the stairs in her seventh month of pregnancy and he was not expected to survive but his Grandmother Margaret Snodgress kept him alive by putting him in a shoebox in the warming oven of the wood-burning stove and feeding him with an eyedropper; this is the first of many instances that he called “God saved me” moments. When his father was drafted into the Navy during World War II, Gene and his family moved to the nearby town of New Castle. He attended New Castle schools where he excelled in academics and sports; he was an elite track & field athlete, and quarterbacked the New Castle Senior High School Trojans football team. In seventh grade Gene was invited to a Sadie Hawkins Dance by Judy Whiteman, but in the years afterward she thought he was a conceited athlete. During their senior year of high school Judy discovered that he was simply shy and they dated steadily. Upon graduation, Gene was awarded a track scholarship to the University of Michigan, while Judy was to attend Ball State College in Muncie IN and they planned to marry after they got their degrees. Three weeks before he was to leave for college, Gene realized that he did not want to be separated from Judy for four years and on September 3, 1957 the high school sweethearts got married.

Unfortunately, during his first semester of college Gene fell ill with double pneumonia. In the hospital he had an out-of-body death experience but chose not to stay in Heaven and returned to his pain-wracked body because he didn’t want to leave Judy. He moved back to New Castle to recover but suffered repeated bouts of pneumonia until he was advised by his doctor to move to a drier climate. In September 1959 Gene and Judy welcomed daughter Pam and then the little family moved out West where Gene’s health could improve as he continued to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Geology at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, ultimately completing his PhD degree. Gene was busy on the home front as well, when son Brad joined the family in June 1961 and Rusty followed in November 1964. Supporting a family of five required more income than Gene could make as a student with several part-time jobs, so in 1967 he accepted a job in Montana with Kennecott Copper. In the following years Gene was offered many opportunities for advancement in his career as a staff Geologist and Mining Engineer, some of which he accepted and the family moved to Denver, Tucson, and then Chicago, which allowed the family to be closer to the extended family in Indiana. However, three years in the Midwest was plenty for the Bailey family and they returned to the West. Gene went into business as an independent mining consultant in Colorado Springs and worked with family in their cattle ranch and horse breeding operation in southern Colorado. Gene and Judy lived in the Springs for more than 30 years before retiring in Fort Collins, Colorado in late 2010.

As new members joined the family, Gene embraced them with open arms and great affection: son-in-law Steven Powell and daughters-in-law Tammie Boulter and Tracy Bailey. Gene and Judy experienced great joy as they welcomed grandchildren Jason Powell (wife Sarah), Andrew Powell, Arielle Bailey Winans (husband Josh), Alec Bailey (wife Stacia), Maureen Bailey, Jackson Bailey, Lindsay Hourigan, Natalie Hourigan Olson (husband Adrian), and Luke Hourigan (fiancé Austin). They knew still more joy with the arrival of great-grandchildren Riley, Madison, and Levi Powell, and Hannah Winans. Gene also enjoyed the friends of his children and grandchildren and always made them feel loved and welcomed to any gathering. His greatest pleasure was spending time with his loved ones and he never tired of talking about their lives and activities.

Gene was a voracious reader and he and daughter Pam traded books back and forth frequently. He enjoyed fly-fishing and spent many evenings tying flies. He loved to play cribbage with any willing opponent, playing more than 100 games with son-in-law Steven over the years. He enjoyed horses all his life - riding them for pleasure and on big game hunts, and through his involvement in breeding Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred race horses and Appaloosa show horses as part of the family operation. Gene was a long-time member of the Society of Mining Engineers and held several official positions. Gene and Judy were members of Sunrise Methodist Church in Colorado Springs where he was a member of the choir and served on the Finance committee. Several years ago, they joined Heart of the Rockies Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Fort Collins and made many friends; Gene enjoyed being a part of the men’s group until the virus situation made meetings impossible.

Gene’s later years were plagued with health challenges which he met with incredible grace and strength and he never lost his sense of humor or his love of family and friends. Throughout their almost-65 years of marriage Judy was his steadfast companion, helpmate, and caregiver and they set an example of love and faithfulness that is an inspiration to all who know them.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in Gene’s memory to Pathways Hospice

https://pathways-care.org/ways-to-give/

A Celebration of Resurrection to New Life for Gene Bailey will be held Saturday March 5, 2022 at Heart of the Rockies Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) at 6501 Brittany Street in Fort Collins, Colorado.