George Leon Bailey II

George was born in Detroit Michigan on August 16, 1928 to George Sr. and Barbara Bailey. He was the oldest of four children. George attended St. Augustine School and University of Detroit High School where he graduated on June 11, 1946. He sang in the choir, won ribbons for scholastic excellence, was a French Club member, and was noted for his friendliness in the senior yearbook. He went on to the University Of Detroit College Of Engineering and received a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree in November 1951. And after a two year courtship, of which the last year was done through a flurry of letters between Detroit and Inglewood CA, he was married to Ann Geraldine (Gerry) Lawless on September 6, 1952 at Gesu Church in Detroit.

He began his engineering career at Douglas Aircraft in California, then Chrysler Missiles in Michigan, and finally to Boeing where he worked until his retirement in 1988.

George and Gerry joined the newly established St. Bernadette Catholic Church when they moved into the parish in 1961, and their seven children attended and graduated from St Bernadette Catholic School. As the family grew, so did their connection and devotion to the Church. They gave generously of their time by volunteering for various church and school activities. At any one time, George was a church usher, baseball coach, bingo worker, Religious Education (CCD) teacher, School Athletic Association member, and fundraiser. He had lifelong friendships with fellow parishioners, neighbors and co-workers. His calm nature, intelligence and genuine interest in others drew people to him.

George loved road trips. Before and after retirement, his vacation of choice was to hit the road to visit relatives, nearby in Oregon & California, or back to Detroit. He and Gerry even spent their honeymoon driving from Detroit to California where they settled for some years. Some trips were just to see parts of the country they hadn’t seen yet. He traveled by plane only when necessary for work or to satisfy Gerry’s desire for international travel.

He liked to work jigsaw puzzles, watch and listen to sports, and kept up on local and national politics. But most of all he liked to talk to people. He was a good listener and liked to help people whenever he could.

George passed away peacefully at the home where he had lived for the last seven years. He was preceded in death by Gerry, his wife of 56 years and his brother Paul. He is survived by children Paul, David (Jeannie), Marty (Cha), Mary (Janna), George (Jackie), Jon (Denise), and Maureen, grandchildren Andrew, Lauren, Claire, Lucas, Holden, Jacob, Jonah, Julia, Elias, Brandon and Nathaniel, great granddaughters Mya and Mila, his sister Mary Dettloff, and brother Leonard Bailey. He also leaves behind many dear friends that enriched his life. His kindness, wisdom and humor will be missed by all that knew him.

Special thanks to the owners (Jill Martin & Kim Dang) and the many caregivers of Simply the Best Care for their kind attention and care of George for the last years of his life.