Joanne Bailey

Joanne Bailey Obituary

Biography

Joanne Lee (Wood) Bailey died unexpectedly February 3, 2016, at the memory care wing of The Pearl on Carman Drive in Portland where she had resided for almost three years. Joanne was the daughter of Charles and Norma Wood of Portland who predeceased her.

Joanne attended Roosevelt High School and then the University of Oregon where she met her future husband. Her college education was cut short after two years by her marriage to Ronald E. Bailey upon his graduation and his upcoming stint in the military, which took them both to Fort Gordon, Ga., in 1960.

While Ron went on to law school at Willamette University followed by a 43-year career at the law firm currently known as Bullivant Houser Bailey, Joanne embarked on her pursuit of her many interests and talents. First the raising of their two boys, Griff and Brad, then years of attention to her love of horses which grew to the possession of four. Stabling, grooming, riding, training and showing of horses was her devotion for the next 10 years, much of it including her sons who, in time, moved onto the other sports that fill the lives of young men. During their grade school days, Joanne participated in activities and responsibilities of parents of school children, including taking on the duties of chair of the PTA. Joanne’s next 10-year undertaking involved the harnessing of the talents of struggling grade school students at various schools within the Portland Public School system, helping those students to maximize their educational experience. It was not long before her work with troubled students was in greater demand until the energy demanded of her mind and body for that work was exhausted. Then it was time to move on, expand on and enjoy her other talents over the next 10 years, which included playing competitive team tennis in the city Volvo league, remodeling the family home and beach getaway (more than once), and painting in oil and other mediums. As the computer age engulfed us all, Joanne’s final activity, before dementia took it away, was to become a master of online gaming (not the betting type) playing with and challenging players around Oregon, the Northwest and the country. J

Joanne left us suddenly and unexpectedly Wednesday evening, February 3, 2016, following a normal day at the memory care unit where she was an active, alert resident, enjoyed by family, staff and visitors. Joanne is survived by her husband of 56 years, Ron; sons, Griffin Bailey of Portland and Brad Bailey of Columbia, Mo.; three grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Her brother, Craig, predeceased her.

Honoring Joanne’s wishes, there will not be a public service. Remembrances may be sent to the Oregon Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association , 1650 N.W. Naito Parkway, Suite 190, Portland, OR 97209-2535.

Facts Born: December 25, 1938
Death: February 3, 2016

Services

You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or by planting a memorial tree in the memory of Joanne Bailey

Plant a tree in memory of Joanne

One reply on “Joanne Bailey”

Please accept my sincere condolence for your loss. For the time death is a part of life but still hard to deal with when it happens to us. Now we have an empty hole to fill. When our thoughts make us lonely there is a scripture I think of that seems to help it is found at (Isa. 41: 10) we are not alone we do have the help for He says “I will hold on to you with my right hand” we have the support we need.
Sincerely,
Lynn