Joe Edwin Bailey

Joe Edwin Bailey, age 75, passed from death into eternal life on April 20, 2023. He was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma on August 12, 1947 and also lived in Tulsa. His family moved to Little Rock when the Orbit Valve Company opened here.

Joe was a retired professional photographer. His living was taking photographs but his love was darkroom developing work and taking family pictures.

Joe was a member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church where he served as a Eucharistic Minister and a member of the School Board. While his children were in school at Good Counsel, Joe was always a Room Dad, Field Trip Driver, Popcorn Popper, Classroom Painter and many other assorted duties!

Joe was not too big on looking important but rather making his family and others feel important. He was loving, kind, honest and someone you could always count on in good times and the not so good. Joe's faith in his Savior was the center of his life and he considered all the other stuff simply blessings or tests. Joe was a Cancer Warrior with a positive attitude and surrendered it all to God.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents Charles Edwin Bailey and Mary Louise (Reid) Bailey and brother Charles Gilbert "Gib" Bailey. Joe is survived by his loving wife of over 56 years Barbara (Jacobi), his daughter Melissa Bailey, his son Cade (Shelly) Bailey and the granddaughter he raised Rachel (Antonio) King, grandchildren Melea Bryant, Andre Bryant and Collin Smith. In addition, he was "Papaw The Great" to great-grandchildren, Carter King, J'hlani Bryant and Alannah Wyrick. Joe is also survived by his sister Irene Robinson of Chino Hills, California and sister-in-law Phyllis Bailey of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The family offers our deepest gratitude to Arkansas Hospice for the dedicated support and loving care shown to their "Mr. Joe".

To celebrate his life, a Mass will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, April 29, 2023 at Our Lady of Good Counsel, 1321 South Van Buren Street in Little Rock. Burial to follow at 1:00 pm at Forest Hills Cemetery, 10200 AR-5 in Alexander, AR.

Arrangements entrusted to Smith Little Rock Funeral Home.