Joseph Edward

Bailey

Joseph Edward Bailey 75, of Sweetwater passed away Tuesday, August 31, 2021 at Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital.

A military graveside service will be held 3:00 P.M. Wednesday, September 22, 2021 at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Abilene, TX. Interment will follow under the direction of McCoy Funeral Home.

Joseph Edward Bailey was born in Grand Saline, Texas on September 17th, 1945, to Jack R Bailey and Ona Marie Owens.  He grew up with three siblings: Jane, Jimmy, and Kaye.  According to him his momma gave birth to him in a cotton field and his sister Jane would try to feed him bugs while they were out picking cotton.  The family moved to Lubbock and Joe enlisted in the United States Army at the age of 21.  He fought in Vietnam from 1966 to 1969.  After he returned, he married Vickie Sawyer on June 4th, 1970 .  He went to work for the Post Office and then later worked in the insulation business, then moved to construction, which he continued to do until he retired.

He moved to Sweetwater Texas 13 years ago, where he managed several properties.  Soon after mov ing to Sweetwater, he started doing Gun and Knife Shows, which he enjoyed very much as well as the friends that he met along the way, that he considered family.  He met a fellow Vietnam Veteran Jason Kindrick who lived next door to him, and they became rea lly good friends.  They told war stories and helped look after one another.  Another good friend was Terry, who helped Joe around the properties quite a bit.  He remained in Sweetwater, Texas until his passing on August 31st of 2021.

He is survived by his children: April Perdue, husband David Perdue, Angella Jordan and son Joseph Bailey.  All from Lubbock, Texas.  His grandchildren: Reagan Jordan, Kendall Perdue, Suede Bailey, Kelsey Perdue, and Grace Bailey. When he became a grandpa , his children wanted him to be called Grumpy, but Reagan could not pronounce the R, so it became Gumpy or Gump.  To which he loved being our Gumpy. Along with his children and grandchildren he is survived by his siblings: Jane McNeil, Jimmy Bailey, Kaye Medlock, as well as two stepsisters: Lana Randall and Tonya Reid.

He is proceeded in death by his parents Ona Marie Owens, Jack R Bailey, Stepdad Roland Gibson, as well as step siblings: Jennie Gibson and Ernie Gibson.

The family would like to thank e veryone who came today to honor Joe.  It means a lot to his children and grandchildren, for all of you to be here to celebrate his life and to honor the person he was.