Kaiden Reed Bailey

Kaiden was born in Brisbane, Australia to Shane and Cathie Bailey. The youngest of three children, all he wanted to do was keep up with the big kids. He was his big sister’s little dolly and his brother’s little mate. Kaiden had a look in his eyes that had mischief written all over it. That look stayed with him throughout his life. So did the mischief. “I can’t help it, Mummy!”

Kaiden was a fun little boy. Tiny in stature for the first half of his life but his personality was huge. He was always looking for an adventure. There was no fence, tree, or light post that was too high to climb. “I’m up here, Mummy!” No bushland riddled with snakes that he would not wander through. “They can’t catch me, Mummy!” No pier that he would not jump off of. “It’s so fun, Mummy!” No hill he would not go roaring down on his bike. “I’m so fast, Mummy!” No trampoline he would not do backflips on. “Look at me, Mummy!” He loved it all, even if his mummy did not. It’s worth noting that he was not injured once growing up in Australia. He loved the freedom the outdoors gave him, and he was never one to be contained. “It’s so much better outside, Mummy.”

A Daddy’s boy through and through, Kaiden always loved being with his dad. Fishing was their favorite thing to do together. Eating meat pies and sausage rolls came second. He was Daddy’s Little Man. Nothing broke Kaiden’s heart more than when he lost his dad to cancer when he was 12. The rose colored glasses he wore, the ones that told him Daddy would be just fine, were shattered and he never truly recovered. “I just miss him so much, Mummy!”

It was not long after that we made the move to America, where his mum was from. Kaiden was excited. He had an easy way with people and made friends quickly. The kids loved to hear him talk with his little accent, which drove him crazy. He tried to talk with an American accent by overpronouncing every “R” sound in words. He sounded ridiculous. Over time, his Aussie accent faded but always reappeared when he was excited about something, or mad. “Don’t worry, I will always call you Mummy.”

School was never Kaiden’s scene. ADHD saw to that. Sitting at a desk was so hard for him, as was staying quiet. He was smart though, and loved to read and learn, just not the school way. His conversations were intelligent, his mind was open, and his opinions were strong. He stood up and he spoke out. He would be the first one to swoop in if he saw someone getting picked on. The amount of times Kaiden got in trouble for not minding his own business… “I just can’t watch that shit, Mum!”

One of Kaiden’s greatest gifts was his ability to connect with people. He was always able to find a common ground and a topic to relate to. He was not scared of hard things as he was no stranger to them. He had empathy well beyond his years. If you were in a crisis, he would walk you through it with love and wisdom and the knowledge that you were not alone. He loved his family and his friends so deeply. “You all are everything to me, Mama.”

A good-looking young man with green eyes and a big smile, the one thing that that stood out the most about Kaiden was his hair. The evolution of Kaiden’s hair was quite a spectacular thing to witness. Blonde and straight when he was little, as he got older it changed to dark brown. And then the curls started to appear. The son of two very straight haired parents, it was a surprise. They grew up at first, adding a good four inches to his height. His party trick was taking his hat off and watching his hair just poof up into this perfect crown of curls. “Watch this, Mum!” As it got longer, it fell and formed an amazing willow tree of curls around his head. When it was messy, he looked like Side Show Bob from The Simpsons. Leading up to joining the army, he knew it would have to go. He got the clippers and shaved his head himself. “I filled a whole bucket, Mama!” Those curls eventually grew back, just as wild and free as he was. “Don’t be jealous, Mum.”

At a crossroad in his life, Kaiden made a decision to join the Army when he was 21. “I just want to make you proud, Mama.” Basic Training was insanely hard, but he seemed to thrive. He excelled in his training and made some incredible friends. These young men had nothing but each other to get them through it. “We will always have a bond, Mum.” With orders to Ft. Lewis, he continued his training and was promoted twice within a short time. He had a love/hate relationship with the army but was wanting to pursue a life long career there. But as has often happened, one dumb decision put an end to his goal. A decision was made that he could not finish out his contract but he was not sent home for seven months. He trained like he was never leaving. “I’ve already let them down. I owe them everything I’ve got until I leave. These are my boys, Mum.” After a training session at Ft. Irwin, he was given a coin from his command for excellence in training. They said they had never seen someone who knew they were leaving work so hard. They tried to keep him, but the answer was no. Released with a General Discharge, when he finally did come home, he was sad and ashamed. “I messed up, Mama.”

He found comfort in his family and in his friends and worked on putting the pieces back together. Capable of anything but filled with self-doubt, he struggled to find his purpose again. Learning lessons and changing behaviors is no easy task. The one person that always brought him back to center was Max. Kaiden became a big brother at the age of 19 and Max was his purpose. “I always wanted to be a big brother, Mum.” He sang to him, played with him, babysat him, changed his diapers, chased him around the yard, watched movies and snuggled on the couch. He was everything a brother could be. Their bond was strong and their love for each other needed no words. “I will always be there for him. I promise you, Mama!”

His other favorite role was that of Uncle. His big sister, Adriana, had twins later that same year. Jesse and Esme completed our family and Kaiden loved them all. Jesse is almost identical in looks to Kaiden. Everybody saw it and it always blew Kaiden away. “He’s really lucky though, Mum.”

The last few months of Kaiden’s life were full of hope. A new job that he loved with people that he loved as well. Promoted early on, he was starting be excited about things again. “My boss told me he has plans for me, Mum!” “The regional manager came and shook my hand, Mum.” “I am so grateful, Mum.” It was a joy to see him shine and start to see him meet the amazing person we always knew he was. We spent so many nights talking on the couch about his hopes and his dreams, about memories and friends, about Australia and this deep need to go back there. “That’s my first home, Mum.”

Things took a turn not too long ago. We may never have the answers to the countless questions of what was troubling him so deeply. “I’m not ready to talk about it, Mama.” He still had laughter, he still had love, he still had time to work his way through it. He always got back on his feet. “I’ll be okay, Mama.”

Kaiden was his usual sweet self on July 31st, 2024. Never in a million years did he think this would be his last day. When he left home, he had no idea that he would never come back. His last words spoken in his house were “I got you, Mama!”

Kaiden is preceded in death by his much loved hero and Dad, Shane Bailey. Knowing they are finally together is all the hope we have left. The accident that took him away from us sent him to his father that he has missed for so long. His beloved dogs, Sparky, Lucy, and Sam will be there too. If he can’t be here, then that is where he would want to be. His dad, his puppies, and him. Forever. He will get to see his Pop, Barry Bailey, and Uncles Darren Bailey and Ryan Deaton. And Grandma Pat Nelson will finally get to give you that hug she missed out on. You are in good hands, Buggy.

Kaiden leaves behind a sea of people across two countries. In America, the big brother he adored, James Bailey. His beloved sister, Adriana Bailey along with his brother-in-law, Jesse Flores and their children, Jesse and Esme. His precious baby brother, Max Granat. His sweet bonus siblings Michael and MaryAnn Granat. His loving step-father Mike Granat. His dearly loved grandparents, Barbara Felles, and Richard and Judy Nelson. His Auntie Cheri and cousins Ryan, Hayleigh and Abbey and Great Aunt Pattie Mahoney. In Australia, his Nanna and Grandad, Wendy and Stewart Patton and beloved Auntie Vicky and Uncle Kev. His Uncle Dale and Auntie Sandra and cousins Luke, Anthony, William, and Alexandra. And bonus brothers for life, Jacob and Jeremy Campbell. There are so many friends that have enriched his life so deeply over the years. They were his chosen family as well. And then there’s his Mum, Cathie Bailey. “I will love you and I will miss you, always and forever, Buggy.”

Funeral Services for Kaiden will be held at 3:00 pm on Friday, August 16, 2024 at Whitehurst Sullivan Burns & Blair Funeral Home, 836 E. Nees Ave., Fresno, CA 93720.

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