Ray Bailey

Major Ray Henderson Bailey, U.S. Army, Ret., age 72 and a resident of Gulfport, died Tuesday, November 18, 2008, in Biloxi.
Ray spent his first 18 years in Birmingham, AL, where he graduated from Shades Valley High School in 1954. He was the oldest of six children including Marion, Betty, Shirley, Geraldine, and David. His memories of childhood included watching his father shave, playing kikcball, mumu pegs, chopping wood, and building fires at 4 a.m. in a pot bellied stove. He remembered his mother having her hands full with six children and her working very hard. Ray's father, Pleayse, died when Ray was almost six years old. His mother, Dorothy, died in October 1991. He was active in baseball in junior high school and participated in gynmastics, basketball, and touch football in high school.
In October 1954, Ray joined the U. S. Air Force and took his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, and after leave, went to medical technician school at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. In March 1955, he was assigned to Germany and returned in 1958, when he was assigned to the U.S. Air Force hospital at Keesler, where he served for almost eight years. Three of his children, Marian, Susan, and Kevin, were born there. Ray was named Hospital Airman of the Month in early 1960 and was named Keesler AFB Airman of the Year for 1960.
He began in 1960 to take college courses at the University of Southern Mississippi where he worked as night class co-ordinator. He was assigned in 1964 to University of Omaha in Nebraska where he acquired his bachelor's degree in January of 1965. He continued to work and take classes in addition to his regular hospital job until January 1966, when he was given a direct commission in the Medical Service Corps, USA, 2nd Lt. He completed the basic office course and medical service corps school at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and subsequently was assigned as registrar, USA Hospital at Fort Rucker, Alabama. He also served on the School Board of Education at Fort Rucker and the Officer's Club Budget Council. In 1968, Ray was sent to the 36th Evac Hospital in Vietnam where he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. Ray returned to attend the advance officer course in 1969 at Fort Sam Houston. He also served at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis, Indiana, Fort Walters, Texas, and attended Texas Christian University at Fort Worth, where he received his MBA degree in 1974. From 1974-76 he was clinic administrator at Womack Army Hospital, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. His last two assignments were in health care administration at USA Hospital, Fort McPherson, Georgia, 1977-78, and the Academy of Health Sciences, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, where he retired in May 1979 after 25 years of service. He received over 60 awards, certificates, and diplomas during his career.
He loved to travel, visiting 32 countries at last count, and all but 8 states. He loved the National Parks along the Continental Divide, especially Yellowstone. Ray loved his country, his children, and those who contributed to his career.
Ray is survived by his children, Barney, Marian, Susan, Kevin, and Angela; his brother, David; sister, Shirley; and five grandchildren, Christina Woodlief, Eric Sherry, Chad Bailey, Kristen Keller, and Matthew Bailey.
Visitation will be at the RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 274 Beauvoir Road in Biloxi, on Thursday, November 20, 2008, from 8:30 a.m. until the funeral service at 9:15 a.m. Burial will be in the National Cemetery in Biloxi.