David Eugene Bailey

David was born in Pueblo, CO, the son of Donald E and Wilma Bailey. The family moved to Collbran when David was young. He attended school there and was a straight A student who was active in FFA. He played football and basketball and participated in track and field. He also earned spending money by running trap lines for muskrats and beavers.

David initially did not plan to go to college. He made use of his outdoorsman skills by working for the U.S. Forest Service at Mesa Lakes and by guiding hunters. He was known as a jack-of-all-trades, who was skilled in plumbing, electricity, carpentry and mechanics.

Two years out of high school, David decided he wanted to be a veterinarian. He attended Mesa College and Colorado State University. During that time, he married Taffy Force.

He went on to Oregon State University on a scholarship and completed his Masters in toxicology in 1967.

Another scholarship took him to Utah State University where he earned a PhD. in toxicology.

David worked as a toxicology researcher at a lab in Fort Collins before moving to Waverly, NY. to work in the same field. He then moved back to Grand Junction, where he got a real estate broker’s license. After several years in that business, he accepted a job offer from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in Washington D. C. He told family members that they offered him so much that he couldn’t turn it down.

During this time, he married Margaret Gail Lyons, and they were married until her death in 2011.

David stayed in D. C. until he retired. He moved back to Grand Junction and bought a home in the Orchard Mesa area.

David met Shirley Quinn in a grief support group, and they married in 2014 in a barefoot beach ceremony at Kauai, Hawaii.

David is survived by one daughter, Janet. A son, Mark, preceded him in death.

He is survived by 3 grandsons, 4 great-grandchildren, 6 nieces and 10 nephews.

David is preceded in death by a brother, Lawrence. He is survived by Shirley; a brother, Kenny; and 2 sisters, Lois Shaw and Joyce Caraway.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in honor of David can be made to Hopewest Hospice.

A memorial gathering will held at a later date in the Summer of 2025.