Silas Bailey Estes

Silas Bailey Estes of Clarendon was born in Brice on February 12, 1922 the youngest of five children to James Bailey and Margaret Leila (Cross) Estes.

He passed away on October 5, 2010 at the age of 88. Celebration of life services will be held at First Baptist Church on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Bailey’s nephew James Dickson will officiate. Burial will follow at Citizens Cemetery by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Visitation will be held on Friday from 5-7 pm at Robertson Funeral Directors.
Bailey graduated from Lakeview High School in 1941. He served in the U.S. Army from l944-1946 of which he served nine months in the European Theater of Operations during WWII. Bailey married Mary Prudhomme in 1944. Bailey and Mary had one daughter, Toza Estes Nelson.

Mary passed away January 7, 1951. Bailey then married Louvetta Cowan May 8, 1952, in Clarendon and they had two children, Stephen Bailey and Melissa Estes Butts. They lived in Clarendon until 2007 when they moved to Lubbock but never considered any place “home” except Clarendon.

Bailey was a Certified State Bridge Welder for Texas and was called to bridge construction all over the state. He owned and operated Estes Welding Shop, Estes Storage units, various rental properties, and also constructed metal buildings. He stayed active and working in the community until he had a stroke at the age of 84. A wonderful father, husband, uncle, and friend, Bailey loved the Lord, his family, and his friends. He was a longtime member of First Baptist Church of Clarendon. Fishing (especially deep sea fishing), hunting, drinking coffee with his buddies, singing and playing the guitar (or keyboard by ‘ear’) were his favorite pastimes.

Bailey had a loving and generous heart of gold that quietly touched many who needed help whether it was it a friend, family, or a stranded or hungry stranger passing through town. Bailey Estes was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mary Prudhomme Estes; brother, James Bailey Estes; sisters, Gladys Baten,

Ila Mae “Jimmie” Dickson, and Juanita Dillon; two nephews, one niece and numerous in-laws. Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Louvetta; son, Stephen Bailey of Clarendon; daughters, Toza Nelson (husband Don) of Lubbock and Melissa Butts (husband John) of San Antonio; grandchildren, Bryan Jones (Jamie), Lafonda Miller (Jeremy), Stephanie Estes, Eric Butts and Kyle Butts; step grandson, Jerod Moore; Six great-grandchildren, Bradley Jones, Tabatha Jones, Chase Jones, Cassius Miller, Angeline Chavez, Evan Bailey Estes; step great-grandchildren and a host of extended relatives and friends.