John Loy Bailey was the third child born 21 Jun 1873 in Bossier Parish, Louisiana to Susan Elizabeth "Susie" Turner b 24 Nov 1848 and died 10 Jan 1880, she was born and died in Minden, Webster Parish, Louisiana and William Hopkins "Buck" Bailey b 22 Oct 1839 and died 22 Apr 1919, he was born and died in Athens, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana.

John Loy was only 7 years old when his mother died. Three years later his father married Laura Jane Beard b 10 Feb 1858 in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana died 15 Feb 1927 in Lincoln Parish, Louisiana.

On December 22, 1892 in Athens, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, He married Mattie Elizabeth Bridges b 09 Aug 1878 in Athens, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana the only child born to Mary Frances "Molly" Howard b 10 Aug 1850 d 14 Oct 1914, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana and Soloman Frank Bridges b 04 Feb 1840 d 31 Aug 1900.

To this union was blessed with 11 children, sadly only five lived into adulthood:

- James Robert b 28 Sep 1892 d 05 Feb 1894, age 16 months
- Marilee b 17 Oct 1894 d 08 Dec 1896, age 2 years
- Lorena May "Lona" b 26 Nov 1896 d 07 Sep 1909, age 12 years
- Convie Dewey b 10 Feb 1899 d 09 Jul 1963; married Lavinia Ardis Yearwood b 04 Apr 1899 d 01 Jan 1987, they had a daughter who married, no known children born to this union; and, a son, Convie Dewey II b 10 Oct 1930 d May 1986, married Sybil Hockett and had a son and a daughter.
- Jay Newton b 17 Apr 1904 d 12 Mar 1948, with first wife Francis Marion Smith they had 2 daughters and 2 sons; along with 10 grandchildren.
- John Turner "Little John" b 15 Jun 1909 d 26 Dec 1911, age 2
- Lessie Oahee b 15 Jun 1913 d 20 Feb 1919, age 5
- Dovie Louise b 18 Jun 1915 d 03 Feb 2006, married Halbert Wesley "Bud" Moncrief b 26 Feb 1911 d 26 Nov 2003, they had 2 sons and 2 daughters, along with 8 grandchildren.
- Garvin Loy b 18 Nov 1918 d 03 Mar 1980, age 61; he never married.
- Reba Faye b 21 Sep 1020; in 1938 married Arnold Lavel Lee b 17 Feb 1916 d 11 Apr 1979, they had 1 daughter b 11 Oct 1939 d 22 Jan 1979, and, 3 sons b 11 Jun, b 21 Dec 1942, and b 16 Nov 1946 d 10 Dec 1988, and seven grandchildren.

Mattie died in 1953 and when John Loy died on September 11, 1957, he was laid beside her and their 6 babies who preceded them in death, ages 8 months to 12 years, James Robert, Marilee, Lona, Clarence, Little John, and Lessie. They led a full life together raising their five children who lived into adulthood and had many grandchildren.