Roy Lee Bailey

Roy Lee was born August 17, 1929, to the Reverend Henry and Lucy Bailey. The seventh of eight children, he was raised in the South Central Community, and was a lifelong member of Liberty Freewill Baptist Church.

On December 22, 1951, Roy Lee married Hontas Elizabeth Ruble. They celebrated their sixty-third wedding anniversary this past December. Their union produced three daughters, Jennifer, Robin and Candace. Roy Lee was a dedicated family man, and loved nothing more than being surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren.

He worked for most of his life, up until the day of his death, at Bailey Manufacturing Company, the sawmill started by his father in 1909, and operated continuously by the Bailey family since. In the 1970s and 80s, Mr. Bailey also worked for Combustion Engineering, based in Erwin, TN, traveling the globe building glass plants. He retired from CE in 1991, and returned to the sawmill for his golden years. He also farmed, raised cattle, and dearly enjoyed

raising a large garden every summer.

As well as being a lifelong member of Liberty Church, Roy Lee was a 58+ year member of Arcana Lodge #489, Free and Accepted Masons, in Limestone, TN, and a 57+ year member of Limestone #262, Order of the Eastern Star. He was a 32nd degree Mason in the Scottish Rite Temple in Knoxville.

Roy Lee was a 50 year member of South Central Ruritan, and was the last active Charter Member of that club. He was also a charter member of the Nolichuckey Valley Volunteer Fire Department. His service to the South Central Community, through the Ruritan, its baseball and horse show programs, as well as the many people he simply helped in his day to day activities, leave a legacy that will long be remembered.

Roy Lee was a true American Patriot, and proudly served in the United States Army from 1951-53, stationed in Japan in the Signal Corps.

Mr. Bailey was preceded in death by his parents, six brothers and a sister, three sisters-in-law, one brother-in-law, and one nephew.

He is survived by his wife Hontas, his three daughters and three sons-in-law, Jennifer and Steve Henley and Robin and Bob Beals of Jonesborough and Candace and Jeff Kelley of McKinney, Texas. Additionally he is survived by six grandchildren, Dustin Henley (and his wife Aimee); Savannah, Sawyer and Saxton Beals; and Tyler and Conner Kelley. Survivors also include two sisters-in-law, many nephews and one niece, along with many more members of his extended family.

A Celebration of Life and funeral service will be conducted at 2 pm Thursday at Liberty Free Will Baptist Church with interment to follow in the church cemetery. Rev. Terry Bailey and Rev. John Buchanan will officiate.

Pallbearers will be Allen Bailey, Gary Bailey, Drew Bailey, Mike Bailey, Steve Henley, Bob Beals, Jeff Kelley, Dustin Henley, Sawyer Beals, Tyler Kelley and Conner Kelley.

Honorary pallbearers will be Curtis Guinn, Howard Bailey, Clay Brown, James Masters, Rex Renfro and Sam Burchfield.

The Greene County Honor Guard and the Tennessee National Guard will conduct a military graveside service.

The family will receive friends 4-8 pm Wednesday at Liberty Free Will Baptist Church, 91 Guy Brown Road, Chuckey, TN 37641.

There will be a Masonic Service conducted by Arcana Lodge #489 and Limestone #262 Order of the Eastern Star Service immediately following visitation.