Gary Lee Bayliss

My husband Gary Lee Bayliss Sr. died on December 30, 2016. He was the best man I have ever known or ever will. He was the best Daddy to our wonderful son Gary Lee Bayliss Jr. and daughter M. Jo Bayliss. Our family was beautiful and it was because of my husband that there was joy in all of our lives each day.

You could always depend on Gary to brighten your day, and when he hugged you, you knew you were loved. He gave selflessly and took great pains to make others happy. My husband brought a smile to anyone he ever met and left them better than when he met them either it was giving a meal, a couple of dollars or a listening ear. His favorite holiday was Christmas and he made it so special with wonderful little surprises and his baking. He and his granddaughter Sarah spent a lot of Christmases baking cookies and other treats and it was one of Gary's favorite memories. He had two devoted brothers Jim and Milton Bayliss, and when the three of them were together you would laugh until your sides ached. It was always such fun and a joy to be with them and share in these precious moments. This will be greatly missed.

We shared a lifetime of love, and even when things got tough or there was struggle the love and laughter got us through. My husband made sure of it. I am filled with wonderful and cherished memories such as our first Christmas and how we stuck the Christmas tree through the sunroof of our Volkswagen bug in a snowstorm. Or the time Gary brought me an Easter basket that was bigger than me after riding the bus to deliver it.

I recall the late night trips he took yo the store to get me whatever I was craving while carrying our children. And I so remember seeing my beautiful husband hold our children for the first time knowing I had married the perfect man. The memories are my companion now as my Dovey is gone. I was his lovey and he was my dovey always.

We had our children and we were so happy. And they grew up and gave us grandchildren Sarah, Jennifer, Brandy, Ember and Kristina. And we were so happy and our grandchildren grew up and gave us great grandchildren Tyler, Jameson, Finnegan and Axel. And again we were so happy. We were blessed with a beautiful grandson Robert who our granddaughter gave us through marriage. Gary loved Robert so. In addition our daughter in law Deborah was also loved. My husband always said that your children are the cake and grandchildren were the icing. When our daughter asked what great grandchildren were he said they were the sprinkles.

Gary asked us to let him go and be with God, and though we wanted him with us we wanted his pain to end, and we know he is with our Father in heaven and we will meet again. Until then, we will try to live by his example and make him proud. Our loss has left a hole in our hearts and though his memory brings tears it brings a smile also as we are so blessed to call him ours. And I was always proud to know he was mine.