Terry Elman Bailey

Terry Elman Bailey, longtime resident of Giles, Texas, passed away on Thursday, May 4th, 2017 in Amarillo. Services were held on Saturday May 6, 2017, in First Baptist Church in Hedley with Rob Lackey and Lewis Ellis officiating. Burial followed in Rowe Cemetery.

Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon

Terry was born in Hedley, Texas on July 24, 1939, to Elmore and Margie Bailey.  He graduated from Hedley High School in 1957, where he played any sport offered.  He was especially fond of basketball and played under Coach Don Haskins.  After high school, he attended Clarendon College on a basketball scholarship. He began his work career with General Telephone in Memphis in the early sixties.  After the birth of his first child, he wanted to be home more and began farming in Brice.  He farmed for 20 plus years before becoming a business owner in 1986.  He successfully ran Bailey’s Convenience Store for almost 20 years touching many lives along the way.  He was known for his giving spirit and was always ready to help anyone in need.  A few years after retirement, he bought a farm and moved to Leila Lake where he loved to work outside and be on his tractor as much as possible.  After some health issues arose, he moved to Panhandle to be closer to his daughter and lived briefly at The Cottages Assisted Living in Amarillo.  He received excellent care there before the Lord called him home.

Terry loved all children, especially his children and grandchildren.  He had a great sense of humor and loved to have fun, sometimes at other’s expense.  He loved to do anything outdoors: riding motorcycles, fishing, hunting and cooking out.  He also made many trips to Silverton, Colorado to ride the mountain passes.  Anytime friends and family wanted to get together for any reason, he was the first to volunteer.  He hosted many celebrations at his home in Giles and enjoyed every minute of it.  Making memories with the people he loved was very important to him and he treasured his life at Giles.

He was preceded in death by his parents; 1 brother Stanley Bailey, niece Cyndy Bailey, and a special cousin Tommy Bailey.

He is survived by a son Todd Bailey and wife Melissa of Amarillo, daughter Kristi Wagner and husband Todd of Panhandle, sister Jean Stavenhagen and husband Mac of Clarendon, sister Nita Graham and husband Gary of Memphis, grandchildren Evan Bailey of Amarillo, Clay and Brice Wagner of Panhandle, step-grandchildren Michael Blackwell of Amarillo, and Lindsey Blackwell of Nashville, Tenn., the mother of his children JoAnn DeBord of Clarendon, 3 nieces and 3 nephews that were close to his heart.

The family request memorials be sent to Rowe Cemetery Association, PO Box 185 Hedley, Texas 79237