Willie Bailey

Willie or Will to some was a generous and committed father, who loved to laugh. As a 30-year IRS employee, Willie always said, ‘I don’t care what you do in this life, but you have to die and pay your taxes’. He was an avid sports fan, a “take yo money” dominoes player, and one of the best products of his generation. Over the years Will expressed his adventurous side through travel and site-seeing. He overcame adversity due to personal injury and the loss of his wife of 20+ years, but he never wavered in his commitment to his children. He was father and friend. Willie passed away on June 24th, 2022, at the age of 62. He was born on March 8, 1960, to Willie Frank and Ella Wee Bailey in Memphis, Tennessee. Willie was second-born from this union and in his early years played basketball and liked to draw and sketch. His parents were part of the Great Migration, so Willie grew up in Des Moines, Iowa. He graduated from North High School and Des Moines Area Community College with an Associates of Arts degree. His outgoing nature resulted in many friends from those early years. After earning his degree, Willie moved to the Pacific Northwest, specifically the Seattle area and began a new chapter in life. In tow on this journey was his wife Jeanetha (nee Tolson) and his two oldest children Tandra and Jayme Bailey in the summers. Willie is preceded in death by his wife Jeanetha, his parents Frank and Ella, and his sister Ella Renee. He is survived by his children Jayme (Mariah), Tandra, Debin, Demison, and Richmond; his grandchildren Carter, Colin, Cason, and Harper (Jayme and Mariah); Ashton Brunson, Aaliyah Brunson, and Presley Brunson (Tandra); Elijah, and Ameena (Demison); siblings Darry Lee, Doris Denise, Patricia Anne, Chrissy, and Tony Sherrell. He leaves behind a host of aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and colleagues to mourn his passing.