Leslie Ray Bailey

Mr. Leslie Ray Bailey, 73

Mr. Leslie Ray Bailey, age 73, of Cookeville, TN and formerly of Clay County, TN passed away on Monday, April 6, 2020, at Cookeville Regional Medical Center in Cookeville, TN after a sudden illness.

There will be a private family viewing followed by a drive-by viewing from 12:30 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 9, 2020, at the Upton-Hay Funeral Home. (Drive-by viewing will not allow for getting out of your car. There will be directional signs.) The procession will leave the Upton-Hay Funeral Home for the Graveside Service being held at 2:00 p.m. at the Bailey Family Cemetery. Kenny Westmoreland will officiate. All Mandates for social distancing WILL be enforced.

Note: All gatherings of ten (10) or more should be postponed, and/or only conducted with a limit of ten (10) or less people.  Graveside services should be private and conducted with ten (10) or less people. This information is subject to change per recommendation by the Federal Government and CDC.

Absolutely NO food allowed in the funeral home until further notice.

Social distancing will be practiced and no touching is encouraged.

Ray was born in Celina, TN on Thursday, May 30, 1946, to the late Willie ‘Fred’ and Sarah Evelyn (Abney)Bailey. Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by 1 brother, Thomas Bennett Bailey; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Wayne E. Jones and Olyne (Davis) Jones; Brother-in-law, John David Jones and beloved pet grand dog, Ceasar Bailey.

Ray was a man of many talents and especially loved to work and be in service to others. He mostly cherished his time spent with his family. Never short for words, Ray always made time for his friends. With a decorated educational pathway, he graduated from MTSU with a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science Biology and started a Master’s Degree in Public Health Administration. Ray spent 37 years working as a sales agent for Moorman’s ADM. He was known to say, “I can’t retire, because I don’t have any hobbies.”

Leslie Ray Bailey joined the love of his life, Virginia Jones in marriage on September 3, 1966, and they enjoyed 53 years of devoted marriage. The completed their family with the addition of their cherished son, Mark.

Ray is survived by his adoring wife, Virginia of Cookeville, TN; 1 son, Mark Allen Bailey, and wife, Sherry; and 1 step-grandson, Brendon Southard all of McMinnville, TN; 1 brother, Joe Donald Bailey of Celina, TN; 1 sister, Frances Bailey Tayes and husband, Tim of Carlisle, OH; 1 sister-in-law, Joyce Bailey of Avon, IN; nieces and nephews, Janet Bailey of North Carolina, Jeff B. Bailey of Florence, KY, Chris Tayse of Carlisle, OH, Nicole Dixon of Cookeville, TN and Mandy Laughlin of Carlisle, OH; several great-nieces and great-nephews, as well as many cousins, friends and neighbors also survive.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the ‘Leslie Ray Bailey’ Memorial Fund that will be set up in an effort to support others who share in some of Ray’s greatest passions.

The Upton-Hay Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mr. Leslie Ray Bailey

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Leslie Ray Bailey, please visit our floral store.