Ragan Bailey, age 88, of Russellville, died Sunday, April 18, 2004, at Chambers Memorial Hospital in Danville. A son of the late Charles Franklin and Rhoda Elvara Wells Bailey, he was born November 21, 1915, in Dover, Arkansas. He married Millie Baker on July 24, 1937, in a horse lot behind the barn at Slo Fork, Arkansas (in Yell County; also called Mosley). He began his career by working with his father and brothers at Bailey Lumber Company at Mill Creek and in Dover. Even though he was never in the military, he served his country by running six screw machines at one time, making ball bearings for the war effort at the Marlin-Rockwell Company in Plainview, Connecticut at the beginning of World War II. From there his family moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he and his wife both worked at Douglas Aircraft, building airplanes. From there they moved to Richmond, California, where he worked at the Mare Island Navy Yard, working on submarines until the conclusion of the war. In 1947 they moved back to Russellville, where he founded Bailey's Machine Shop, building the building mostly by himself on property he bought, laying the concrete blocks and building the doors and windows. For many years he worked making industrial parts for many companies in the River Valley. He was a member of the Mill Creek Church of Christ. He loved going to the singings held at the Red Barn, the Legion Hut and at Woodland in Clarksville. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Millie Bailey; a son-in-law, Jimmy Barnhouse; six brothers: Glenn, Willard, Buel, Rue, Herman and DeLon Bailey; and three sisters: Ona Padilla, Thelma Coates and Nina Bailey. Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, James Ragan Bailey Sr., and Judy Bailey of Russellville; a daughter, Jane Barnhouse of Sherwood; four brothers and four sisters-in-law: Haskell Bailey of Atkins; C. T. and Billie Bea Bailey of Russellville; Paul and Wanda Bailey of Russellville; Robert and Kris Bailey of Brandon, Florida; and Mildred Bailey of Russellville; a sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Harold "Pete" Metz of London; six grandchildren: James Ragan Bailey Jr., of Dallas, Georgia; William Robert Bailey of Pensacola, Florida; Jonathan Henry Bailey of East Greenfield, Pennsylvania; Karen Baker of Sherwood; Kathy Baker of Memphis, Tennessee; and Randy Barnhouse of Sherwood; nine great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Funeral will be 2 P.M., Thursday, April 22, 2004, at the Shinn Chapel with Mr. Sid Womack officiating. Burial will be in Rest Haven Memorial Park in Russellville, by Shinn Funeral Service.

Active pallbearers will be Walter Hartsfield, James Duryea, Dallas Dedmon, Don Wynn, Travis Hamilton, Dorsey Jones, Clint Hall, Donnie Bailey and Terry Hardman. Honorary pallbearer will be Woody Rogers.

Memorials may be made to the Mill Creek Church of Christ.