Obituary of Bernard "B" Bailey

Bernard Elton Bailey, resident of Dawson Creek, passed away peacefully in his sleep on May 12, 2018, at the age of 94 at Rotary Manor. Bernard, known as B' to many people, was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado on Valentine's Day 1924. Immediately after graduating from high school in 1942, he joined the U.S. Navy and was in pilot training until the end of the war in 1945. Shortly thereafter, he joined the Colorado Springs Fire Department and specialized in training and safety inspection, completing his service as the battalion chief in 1972. As a young fire fighter (a fireman in those days) in 1948, he met, fell in love with, and married Joyce Ann Crane. In their tiny apartment above a convenience store, they battled cockroaches and Joyce slept with B's .38 Special when he worked shifts at the fire station. Together they went camping, fishing and hunting in the mountains of Colorado, and started a family and raised four children. Family was of utmost importance to them throughout their nearly 70 years of marriage. In 1972, B and Joyce started a new adventure together when they moved to British Columbia, Canada. They participated in a cooperative farming experiment with other families and learned from scratch how to raise crops and livestock at rural properties first near Invermere and then at Dawson Creek. In 1977, B went to work in the oil patch operating heavy equipment in northern BC, Alberta, and the Northwest Territories. B and Joyce traveled extensively throughout BC and enjoyed living in various parts of the province. B was never one to shrink from going where there was work to be had: He and Joyce were caretakers at a ranch near Anahim Lake, he became a grader operator in Dease Lake and Telegraph Creek, then he went to work as a foreman with the Ministry of Highways at Bob Quinn Lake and Hudson's Hope, and finally retired to Pouce Coupe and Dawson Creek. As a Christian, Dad often said that he knew where he was going when he died; he had no fear of death and he looked forward to meeting Jesus. B was predeceased by his parents Henry and Mildred, his brother Robert, and his grandson Jeremy Bailey. Bernard leaves to mourn his devoted wife Joyce, children Judie (Randy) Stanley, John (Claudia) Bailey, Janet (Steve) Smillie and Jeff (Renee) Bailey, 13 grandchildren, and 32 greatgrandchildren. The family wishes to express their thanks to Dr. Remi, the nursing staff at the Dawson Creek and District Hospital and the staff at Rotary Manor for providing Bernard with kind, attentive care. In accordance with Bernard's wishes, his earthly remains will be cremated. A Celebration of Life was held on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 2pm at the Bergeron Funeral Chapel. Expressions of sympathy may be made by donation to the Rotary Manor Care Facility, 1121-90 Avenue, Dawson Creek, British Columbia, V1G 5A3 or Gleanings for the Hungry, 43029 Rd 104, Dinuba, California, 93618, USA.