Mr. Arthur Monroe “Mike” Bailey Jr., 82, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Feb. 28, surrounded by family. He was the son of the late Arthur Monroe Bailey and Sophia Curtis Bailey. He was born January of 1942 in Gastonia, N.C., but he spent much of his youth living in Raleigh, N.C.
He graduated from Needham B. Broughton High School in 1959. He was a proud alumnus of East Carolina University and went on to earn a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University. He worked as a counselor and dean of students in the community college system in Richmond and Lynchburg.
He was pursuing his doctorate in education at the University of Virginia when he decided to open a McDonald’s on the Eastern Shore of Virginia in 1978. He went on to own and operate McDonald’s restaurants along the Eastern Shore of Virginia and Maryland before retiring after 30 years.
He was a proud veteran of the Marine Corps and was a member of the Exmore Rotary Club, Capeville Lodge No. 107, and a founding member of a Scottish heritage club.
Mike Bailey was a survivor in every sense of the word. He suffered a major stroke at 40 years of age, but this never slowed him down or affected his zest for life. He enjoyed a long list of hobbies, including (but not limited to) Arabian horses, falconry, karate, golf, sailing, woodworking, genealogy, and archery. Mike had a personality that was larger than life. A man to never sit still or know a stranger, he could talk to anyone who would listen.
Mike was a loving family man and beloved grandfather and is survived by his wife of 54 years, Linda Whippo Bailey; daughter, Christy Bott (Chris), of Chincoteague Island; sons, Matthew Bailey (Christy Ann), of Eden, N.C. and Jonathan Bailey (Julie), of Richmond; as well as his four grandchildren, Parker Bott (Maggie), of Alexandria, William Bott (Ann-Windsor), Nathan Bott, and Ellison Bailey; nephews, Jeff Choplin and Kenneth Troutman (Melissa); as well as nieces, Judy Lohrman (Tony) and Katherine Troutman (Terry); and several great-nieces and great-nephews.
He was preceded in death by his sisters, Linda Choplin and Judy Troutman.
A special thanks to the staff of Commonwealth Senior Living for their love and care over the years.
A special thanks to the many members of the Lunch Bunch, who showed him true friendship and Christ’s love even when he was at his frailest.
Funeral services were held on Sunday, March 3, at 1:30 p.m., at Commonwealth Senior Living, 23610 North St., Onancock, VA 23417, with Pastor Jon Woodburn officiating. Interment followed at Fairview Lawn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations be made to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Norfolk, 404 Colley Ave., Norfolk, VA 23507.
Family and friends may sign the guest book at www.hollandfuneralhome.net
Arrangements were made by the Holland Funeral Home in Nassawadox.
