Patrick (Butch) Bailey
1946 – 2022
Patrick (Butch) Bailey was born in Remagen Germany in 1946. Born to Ruth Siewert Bailey and Harold Bailey, he came to America when he was four years old, speaking German only. He learned English quickly and enjoyed reading and writing. Pat wrote and told many scary stories as a kid subsequent to collecting toys many years later, especially life size ghouls and other horror flick monsters which he displayed at his home in Brookings. Needless to say, Halloween was his favorite holiday.
His family and friends knew him as a “generous and gentle soul” and was always a good listener. He had a good sense of humor and after telling a joke he would laugh the hardest and many times, if the listeners didn’t get it, he would tell it over again until he got a laugh out of everyone.
He was a loving and faithful son to his elderly parents and visited them often, helping with household chores for many years.
Pat had two sons, Mark and Gregory, enjoyed his home in Sutter Creek, California and was a faithful husband to his wife, Patricia. Later they divorced and Pat moved to Brookings, Oregon after retiring from the mill in Sutter Creek. He said he always loved the ocean.
Pat enlisted in the Navy in 1964 and spent a few years in Vietnam during which time he manned a patrol boat on the Mekong Delta. He was injured by enemy fire but later declined a Purple Heart for his support and bravery during that time. That was one experience he never talked about.
After spending a considerable time on the “high seas” on the U.S.S. Iwo Jima, sea life made a huge impression on him that moving to Brookings seemed the logical thing to do. He loved walking the beach, collecting driftwood and taking photos of the fabulous sunsets that he so often got to see. He felt very much at home in Brookings, making it his last home there for over twenty years.
Pat’s youngest son Gregory joined him a few years ago, moving to Brookings to assist him in his cancer recovery and enjoyed many good times together.
It was easy for Pat to make friends as he was friendly and enjoyed the company of others. He also enjoyed going to the casino and found friendship, good food, and adopted a new hobby too!
Pat’s good disposition, generosity, humor, and friendliness will always be his hallmark as those who knew him and loved him will always remember him with those particular qualities.
Pat is survived by his two sons, Gregory Bailey of Brookings, Oregon, Mark Bailey of Sutter Creek, California; two brothers, Gary Bailey of Arnold, California; Gordon Bailey-Siewert of Valley Springs, California and one sister, Diane Bailey-Maupin of Fall River Mills, California. He also had in-laws, nieces and nephews, all of whom will remember him as a fun and caring person who shared many happy times with him, too numerous to enumerate. He will be greatly missed!
