Lonnie Lones Bailey

Elisabeth came to live in Oak Ridge in 1797. Some 125 years later, her great-great-great grandson, Lonnie Lones Bailey was born in the Scarboro community. Having been a fifth-generation Oak Ridger, however, didn’t define Lonnie.

Having a somewhat stoic childhood, he met and married the love of his life, Mildred Irene Gann, and together they raised three children, Constance Mae (the apple of his eye), Lonnie Willis (his name sake), and Dwight Douglas (the babe). Mildred, Connie and Willis preceded him in death. His sense of family was very strong, but this by itself didn’t define Lonnie, either.

In August 1943, on a hot humid Sunday morning on a beach in the Solomon Islands, a sniper’s target was hit. Lonnie was taken out of his foxhole and treated at an aid station. Some years later, he lost his leg as a result of the wound, but a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and various other medals couldn’t accurately describe Lonnie Bailey. He was also a 32nd degree mason.

One of his greatest joys came with the birth of his beloved grandchildren: Donnie Wilson, Tami Bailey, Gabriele Bailey Cooper, Heather Wilson Price, Gabriel Bailey, Steven Bailey, and Hannah Bailey, and many beloved great-grandchildren. His love for them was unending.

Some years after Mildred died, Lonnie was blessed to be married a second time to his love, Irene Day, and soon filled the role of loving father to Irene’s sons, Jeff and John. He cared for them deeply. John preceded Lonnie in death, and after many years of a loving marriage to Irene, she also passed away.

For those who came to know Lonnie, his defining factor was his love and obedience to Jesus Christ, the Son of God. After 90 years of love, wonderment, pain, sorrow, happiness, great and bad times, Lonnie Lones Bailey went to be in the presence of our Lord and Savior Saturday night at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge. His journey on Earth was a blessing to all those who knew him.

The family received friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27, at the Central Baptist Church. The funeral was at 7 p.m. at the church with the Rev. Glenn Ellis officiating.

A graveside service will be held at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 28, at Woodhaven Memorial Gardens.

An online guestbook may be signed at weatherfordmortuary.com.