Michael Henry Bailey, better known as Mike Bailey, was born in Orange, CA. and raised in Garden Grove, CA. He graduated from Garden Grove High School in 1972 and joined the United States Navy shortly after. In the U.S. Navy, he worked as an Aviation Electronics Technician on the USS Ranger maintaining and repairing electronic communication systems and in-flight navigation and detection systems on aircraft. Using the skills he learned in the Navy, Mike worked in the manufacturing and amusement industries for 42 years with his last job as a Sound Engineer maintaining the robotic birds in the Tiki Room at Disneyland. He took pride in making sure the show ran properly and had many stories to tell about his time with the “birds”.
He was involved in Boy Scouts as a young man and eventually started his own Boy Scout troop, Troop 125. He faithfully served as the Scoutmaster of Troop 125 for many years and saw several boys earn the rank of Eagle Scout. He loved to go camping and explore new places. Each summer, when his children were young, he would take his family on a camping trip to one of the many National Parks including Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks in Utah and Lassen Volcanic National Park in California.
In 2010, he and his wife were able take a long awaited trip to Alaska. There he was able to enjoy learning about dog sledding and explore places like Chicken, Alaska. Whatever new place he explored, he always had his camera in tow. He enjoyed taking pictures of the landscapes, flowers, animals and his family. He especially liked showing others his pictures and would hand them his camera after he got back from a trip so they could take a look. Mike Bailey loved spending time with his grandchildren. He taught his grandsons about the stars and how to work with tools and read to his granddaughter with her sitting beside him in his favorite chair. He was blessed with meeting his fourth grandchild shortly before his passing. Mike Bailey was a creative and hard working man who is loved by his family, especially by his wife of 38 years, his 3 children and his 4 grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife, Cathy, his children, Kylene Bailey, Adam Bailey (Tasha), and Phillip Bailey (Heavenly), his grandchildren, Echad, Hunter, Keziah, and Daisy Bailey, his father, James Bailey, his mother, Mitzie Bailey, his brother, Patrick Bailey (Lola), and his sisters, Kathleen Bailey and Tina Van Natta (Al). Mike Bailey passed away November 29, 2018, and is greatly missed.
A visitation for Michael will be held Tuesday, December 11, 2018 from 4:00 AM to 8:00 PM at Acheson & Graham Garden of Prayer Mortuary, 7944 Magnolia Ave, Riverside, California, 92504.
A celebration of mass will occur Wednesday, December 12, 2018 at 12:30 PM at St. Andrew's Newman Center Catholic Church, 105 W. Big Springs Road, Riverside, California 92507.
A committal service will occur Wednesday, December 12, 2018 at 2:15 PM at Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Blvd, Riverside, California 92518.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.AchesonandGraham.com for the Bailey family.
FAMILY
Cathy D. BaileyWife
Kylene BaileyDaughter
Phillip BaileySon
Adam BaileySon
Patrick BaileyBrother
Kathleen BaileySister
Tima Van NattaSister
Michael also leaves to cherish his memory four grandchildren.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18