DRASCO — John Daniel Bailey,

the son of Emmit Bailey and Thelma Verser Bailey was born in Heber Springs, Arkansas, on December 14, 1942, and passed away at his home in Drasco, Arkansas, on August 23, 2021, at the age of 78 years.

He was a veteran of the United States Navy and retired from the Corps of Engineers in Heber Springs.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Emmit and Thelma Bailey and a brother, Dick Bailey. Survivors are his wife, Linda F. Clark Bailey, two daughters, Melanie Harlan and husband Steve and Amy Bell and husband Chris, brother, Wayne Bailey and sister, Becky Bailey, daughters, Tina Mitchell, Tamara Watson, Talitha Stephens, and son, Charles Gage. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Raven Slane and husband Josh, Gus Bell, and Ranton Harlan, a great-grandson, Grady Slane, and a slew of 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, other relatives and many friends.

To know him was to love him… or not. There was no in between. He played hard, worked harder, and loved deeply. If he loved you, you knew it. Not because he told you, but because he showed you. What a blessing it was to live in a world with Dan Bailey in it. Oh, what we would all give to hear one more story or for one more rough hug, but I know that he lived his happiest and fullest life. He will be greatly missed, but even more greatly remembered.

A memorial service was held on Saturday, August 28, 2021, from 10 a.m. until 12 Noon, at JFK Park Pavilion near the fish hatchery. www.familyfuneralservices.net