James "Bucket" Eldon Bailey

James Eldon “Bucket” Bailey, 93 of Abilene, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Friday, June 18, 2021.  Funeral service will be on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Hillcrest Church of Christ, with a time set aside to visit with the family starting at 10:00 a.m.  Burial will follow the service at Elmwood Memorial Park Cemetery, under the direction of Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut Street.

James Eldon Bailey was born on October 17, 1927 in Quanah Texas to Willie and Nell Bailey.  He had four sisters, who are all deceased.  His childhood years were spent in Quanah and Winters.  He was baptized at the age of 13 and was a faithful Christian all his life.    Following a brief stint in the US Army at the end of World War II and graduating with a degree in Biology from Abilene Christian College, he taught school in Snyder for 6 years and developed the first audio visual department for the entire Snyder school district before moving back to Abilene and helping to form Cullers & Bailey, a property tax consulting business where he spent the rest of his working years, retiring in 1996.  He logged thousands of miles on his pickup and travel trailers, and fried thousands of trout on his many trips to New Mexico and Colorado with his family, and with his frequent traveling partners Joe and Ann Andrews. He was active in the Texas Oil and Gas Association, Abilene Kiwanis Club, West Texas Fair and Rodeo, and the Taylor County Expo Center Board.

He was a member of Hillcrest Church of Christ for 62 years, where he served as a deacon and adult education coordinator before becoming and serving as an elder for 34 years.  In his later years, he enjoyed making custom writing pens, wood carving, farming and ranching on properties in Hamby, and in Runnels County that was located close to his childhood home near Winters.  He especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Penelope Bailey, and his four sisters, Lorene Knox, Bettie Brown, Frances Bailey and Cleo Bailey.  He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Sue, and his 4 children, Brenda and her husband Gary Bodine of Edmond, OK, Bob and Jeanese Bailey of Porter, TX, Brad and Sandy Bailey of Cypress, TX, and Bruce and Jennie Bailey of Albany, TX.  He is also survived by 12 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to World Bible School or Christian Homes of Abilene.