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KINGSPORT – Wright Atkins Bailey, 99, went to be with the Lord on May 20, 2020.

Mr. Bailey was born on April 20, 1921, in Willow Lake, South Dakota. Mr. Bailey was most proud to have attended rural Woodland School for 8 years. He was NEVER late and NEVER missed a day of school.

Mr. Bailey’s next accomplishment was that he joined the United States Navy in 1940 and proudly served twenty-four years. During his naval career spanning WWII and Korea, he served on the USS New Mexico and USS Saratoga sailing in the Pacific and the Mediterranean. At the time of retirement off the USS Valley Forge his rank was Chief Machinist Mate and everyone knows the Navy does not run without the Chief!

In post Navy years, Mr. Bailey went on to develop his entrepreneurial talents through various business ventures, eventually, he returned to his home state of South Dakota in 1974 and began a furniture stripping business which led to running several successful secondhand stores and ultimately becoming an auctioneer. He retired once again in 1995, and relocated to Tennessee to enjoy warmer winters, traveling, and spending time with family and friends who fondly referred to him as “Mr. B. from Tennessee”.

Mr. Bailey married Esther Woodworth on November 4, 1944. Two children, Janet and Sharon, were born from that marriage.

Mr. Bailey married Evelyn Robbins on July 5, 1959. Two Children, Lynne and Michael, were born from that marriage.

Mr. Bailey became a member of the Kelvyn Park Willing Lodge 1075, AMAF Masonic Lodge in Chicago, Illinois in February 1954. Mr. Bailey continues to be a proud member of the lodge celebrating 66 years of membership.

Mr. Bailey was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Anna Bailey of Clark, South Dakota.

Mr. Bailey leaves behind his loving wife of 60 years, Evelyn Bailey of Colonial Heights, TN and four children, Janet (James) Ward, Kempner, Texas; Sharon (Roy) Kasper, Lomita, CA; Lynne (Michael) Hagen, Sioux Falls, SD and Michael (Kim) Bailey, Kingsport, TN. Eight Grandchildren, Kenny (Annette) Christian, Tre (Donna) Ward, Paula (Jimmy) Powell (Williamson); John (Tiffany) Ward; Robert (Laura) Brown, Colton Jake Bailey, Dylan (Allie) Eidson, and Arron (Shanaya) Thompson, Fifteen Great Grandchildren, Preston Ward, Ethan Ward, Wyatt Powell, Mary Christian, Ben Christian, Madeline Ward, Jackson Ward, Mollie Brown, Ava Brown, Elleh Brown, Wright Brown, Eloise Eidson, Hayden Thompson, Kayla Thompson and Audrey Thompson.

Mr. Bailey is also survived by a host of other relatives and friends.

A private celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, May 23, 2020 at the Johnson-Arrowood Funeral Home of Church Hill, Tennessee for immediate family. Military honors will be conducted by American Legion Post 3/265 Honor Guard.

To view the service live, please go to www.johnsonarrowood.com and click on Mr. Bailey’s obituary page at 1:30 PM EST on Saturday. If you are not able to watch the service at 1:30 PM EST, it will be uploaded by 9:00 AM on Sunday, May 24.
Mr. Bailey is being Buried in the South Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the South Dakota Veterans Cemetery located in Sioux Falls, SD http://vetaffairs.sd.gov

To sign the online guestbook, please click the tab “Guest Book,” then “Add a Guest Book”. If you would like for us to sign the book for you and would like for us to mail you memorial folders, please call us at 423-357-4113.

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