Dowell Gene Bailey, 88, of Lorado, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, leaving from Logan Regional Medical Center in Logan, following complications from hip surgery.

He was born August 11, 1936, at Pardee in the home of his parents Oat and Mary Bailey.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his step-mother, Anna Laws Bailey; his wife of 50 years, Janet Bailey; daughter, Terry L. Isom; grandson, David Paul Elkins; one daughter-in-law, Flora Gail Bailey; one sister, Pauline Daniels; and four brothers, Nathan, Wandell, James, and Danny Bailey.

Dowell was a retired coal miner who worked in the mines for 20 years, where he performed various jobs. He was a strong, happy Christian knowing no strangers. He loved the Lord and didn't care who knew it. He prayed daily thanking God for another day and read his Bible faithfully as long as he was able. Dowell was a faithful member of Saunders Memorial Freewill Baptist Church until his later life illnesses. He enjoyed fishing and playing board games especially Aggravation with his family.

Those left to cherish his memory include three children, Karen (David) Elkins and Harold Gene Bailey, both of Lorado, and Charles Bailey of Claremont, NC. He had one adopted brother and sister, Alice Pierson and Bill "Poncho" Bailey. Papaw or Pa, as he was known by his six grandchildren, David P. Elkins, Michael Elkins, Ginger (Eddie) White, Stephen (Kayla) Isom, Charlie Bailey, and Ashley Bailey. Dowell also was called Papaw by his great-grandchildren, Harlee, Kaci, Morgan, Dakota, Brooklyn, Zachariah, Whitney, Christopher, Skyler, Joe, Kaylee, Jessalyn, and Davin, and three step-grandchildren, Ethan, Aiden, and Blake White. One special neice, Irene Knipp; and three special friends, Chris Gibson, Doug Gibson, and Donald Gordon; one grand- daughter-in-law, Cassandra Rogers who he called "marshmellow"; along with a host of other family and friends.

Friends may call from 6 until 9 p.m. Monday, December 2, 2024, at the Saunders Memorial Freewill Baptist Church in Lorado.

A Celebration of Dowell's Life will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at the Saunders Memorial Freewill Baptist Church at Lorado with Rev. Roland Cook officiating. Burial will follow in Highland Memory Gardens at Godby.

Pallbearers will be Skylar Gibson, Christopher Gibson, Matthew Hall, Aiden White, Michael Elkins, Stephen Isom, Gene Bailey, Eddie White, and Zackariah Elkins.

Honorary pallbearers will be David Elkins.

Online condolences may be sent to www.krantzmcneelyfuneralhome.com

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Krantz-McNeely Funeral Home at Man.