Larry Eugene Bailey

Our beloved father and hero passed away peacefully in the arms of his devoted son Michael on the evening of November 21, 2012, the night before Thanksgiving.

Larry was born in Mayfield, Utah on October 29, 1931 to John C. Bailey and Emalyne Christiansen Bailey. The Depression was in full force and it had a great affect on the values and principles that guided Larry''s life. When Larry was 10 years old his mother Emmy, brother Clair and sister Fae moved to Salt Lake City where he started his first job as a paperboy selling newspapers down at the Railroad yards at West Salt Lake to the soldiers who were being transported by train. After doing this for a few years he got a job at the Salt Lake Country Club as a caddy. He developed many wonderful friends from the golf course that lasted a lifetime. He also became the night waterman before automatic sprinklers were invented, watering at night and going to school in the day.

Larry was a 1950 graduate of his beloved Granite High School where he played basketball. He was named to the All State Basketball Team in 1949-50. In those days there were only 5 players selected in the state and he was one of them. He once made a half-court shot at the buzzer to beat Jordan High by one point to advance to the State Playoffs. Soon after graduating at Granite, the Korean Conflict started, Larry and five of his friends from High School enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He was in the Air Force from 1950-1954. He was stationed in Japan at Brady Airfield for three years. He had a great respect for the Japanese people.

Upon being Honorably Discharged, Larry received a full athletic scholarship at Utah State where his old basketball coach at Granite (Cec Baker) was now the coach for the Aggies. Larry was a true blue Aggie his whole life. He was a three year starter in basketball and also was the No. 1 and No. 2 golfer on the Golf Team.

It was at Utah State where Larry met and married Karen Dunford, from Logan. They had two children together, Julie and Michael. They later divorced but remained friends. Larry went back to work at the Salt Lake Country Club where he worked in the Pro Shop with his dear friends Tee Branca and Vinny McGuire. In those days the hours and pay were not very good at the golf course so Larry got a job at Fuller Brush when they sold glass. His uncle Lee K. Stewart was his manager and thus started a 50 year career selling glass and aluminum. He was a top salesman for Fuller Brush, Full Trim, Linford Bros. and Mollerup Glass Co., selling hundreds of jobs though out the Intermountain West. You wouldn''t have to drive very far anywhere in Utah to see one of Larry''s jobs that he sold. Larry was also a fine basketball official, he officiated for over 26 years starting with church ball, high school, college, and officiated many Utah Stars training camps. He was inducted into the Utah State Sports Hall of Fame as an official in 2004.

Larry was a soft spoken man. He accomplished many wonderful things in his life, he would never talk about himself and he was a proud man. He had four holes in one, once winning a car in Tooele (or so he thought). He made a hole in one on No. 2 at Oquirrh Hills to win a car, (they never gave it to him) but he did get a bar tab! He won the Salt Lake City Amateur in 1961, playing in many golf tournaments and winning his share. He enjoyed playing Gin Rummy down at the old Sabre Club for many years and he also was a fine pool player, winning league championships with his team from DJ''s.

Larry had many lifelong friends from the golf course, from the basketball courts, through officiating and from selling glass and aluminum for over 50 years. He cherished his friendships and his friends loved him. Larry retired in 2009 because of health problems. He and his son were always together going to doctor appointments, hospitals and clinics for three years. He never complained, he never asked, why me? He remained positive through it all. We have lost a wonderful father, grandfather, brother and nephew, but we are comforted in knowing he is with his Father in Heaven, his beloved mother Emmy who he adored, his father Jack, his brother Clair and his loving brother in-law Bud White Jr. and his grandmothers Maggie Mae Bailey and Emma Christiansen, who he was very close to, plus aunts and uncles.

Survivors include his daughter Julie Ann Matthews and son Michael Dunford Bailey; his grandson Christopher J Matthews; his loving sister Fae L.White; one stepsister Marsha Ramsey (Mike); his Aunt Ruth Beck Christiansen; and many nieces and nephews whom he loved.

Larry was and always will be our Hero. He was one of those people that people truly loved. It was his presence, his honesty and integrity that he possessed. He was the best father any child could ever have.

As per Larry''s request there was no funeral, no viewing, he wanted to be cremated and his ashes are in his son''s possession.

As a family we would like to thank the many doctors and nurses who helped Larry. God Bless you all. Larry would also want to thank his wonderful lifelong friend Robert L. Bero, who passed away in October, and the loving Bero family. Thank you to our dear neighbors Clare and Colleen Banks for all their love and friendship (Clare passed away on the same night as Larry). Thank you to all our great neighbors and many friends along Larry''s journey. He Loved You All. His passion, his good humor, his dedication and devotion, his love without end, these we will keep alive in the memories we cherish and the way we live our lives. "To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die" Condolences may be shared at www.lindquistmortuary.com