Francis P. Bailey Jr., 92

Published 3:44 pm Thursday, June 13, 2013

FLORIDA, June 13 – Francis P. Bailey Jr., 92, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on Saturday, June 8, 2013. He attended Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg and went on to Hampden-Sydney College in Farmville. After college he served in the Army Air Corps during WWII.

In 1948 Mr. Bailey returned to Sanibel, FL and managed the daily operations of Bailey's General Store. Bailey's store has been a pillar of the island community, serving island residents and guests for over 113 years.

Mr. Bailey was the remaining son of a pioneering Sanibel family and was very active in the community personally and through the business. He was a founding member of the Lions Club and he was on the board of the Island Inn. He served as a charter member of the Sanibel-Captiva Community Bank and a Sanibel Community Association board member. He was a volunteer firefighter, a member of the Mosquito Control Board and a long-standing member of the board of Associated Grocer's of Florida. He served the community on several other boards during his life.

He is survived by his wife of 31 years, June Bailey; children, Anne B. Hagerty, Susan Bailey, M. Mead B. Johnson, Jane E.B. Ward, Patrick Bailey, Casey Shaw, Bruce Shaw and Linda Stevens; sons-in-law, Richard Johnson, Michael Ward, James Hagerty and Thomas Stevens; daughter-in-law, Jennifer Bailey; 14 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

The family plans a celebration of his life on June 16 at the Bailey Homestead.

Donations can be made to ARC or The Children's Home Society of Florida. Cards and flowers can be sent to June Bailey, 791 Pen Shell, Sanibel, FL 33957.