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Former Powell resident Joe Bailey, of Bentonville, Arkansas, passed away on July 8, 2019, in Rogers, Arkansas. He was 77.
Joe was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, on March 2, 1942, to Joan Hunter and Raymond Bailey. He graduated from Northeastern State College in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, in 1965, with a degree in economics and then enlisted in the United States Air Force Officer Training School with his best friend Jerry Whitman. Upon completion of his USAF officer training, an old high school football injury led to a medical discharge before he was able to fly planes.
Joe met his wife of 52 years, Janice (Cooley) Bailey, when he was transferred to Cody with Baroid Industrial Drilling Products. They were married in Nowata, Oklahoma, on Nov. 12, 1966.
He went to work for Husky Oil Co., in January 1969, holding a variety positions in credit, sales and marketing. He took early retirement as Denver Division Manager when Husky was sold to Flying J in 1987. Joe and his family moved from Denver to Powell that year, when he purchased NAPA Auto Parts.
Joe led his family in multiple businesses as president of Bailey & Bailey Inc., including NAPA Auto Parts, Bailey House Furniture, Northern Wyoming Cosmetology School, and Nick Bailey Country Rockin’ Cloggers & Real Estate. Bailey & Bailey Inc. was awarded Powell Valley Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneurs of the Year in 1997.
After retirement and selling NAPA Auto Parts to his brother-in-law Jeff Cooley, he enjoyed his yard work and golfing with the “good ole boys.”
Joe was a member and served as a trustee of the BPOE, Powell Elks Lodge, and a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Joe was tired of shoveling snow and harsh Wyoming winters, so in 2017, he and Jan moved to Bentonville, Arkansas.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents and leaves behind wife Jan; sons Kent (Steve) of Bentonville, Arkansas, and Nick (Hannah) of Lone Tree, Colorado; sister Diana (Gaines) Smith of Fort Gibson, Oklahoma; and three grandsons, Jackson, Max and Oliver.
Per Joe’s request, there will be no services at this time. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joe’s name to the Moyer Animal Shelter in Powell.
