Retired Farmington Chamber Leader Dies

FARMINGTON — The founder of Farmington Area Chamber of Commerce died Nov. 25. Joe Bailey helped form the Chamber in 2001 and served as president for 11 years before retiring in July 2012.

“He was one of a kind,” said Tommy Cornwell of Cornwell Insurance in Farmington. Cornwell and Bailey had been friends about 48 years.

They first met in 1966 when they worked together for several years at Nelson’s Funeral Home.

Bailey’s wife, Janell, who passed away about four years ago, owned a furniture store in Farmington and Bailey was retired from Tyson Foods. In a January 2013 article in the Enterprise- Leader, Bailey said he received a notice about a community meeting at the Farmington Senior Center. Bailey said he recalls telling his wife back then in June 2001, “I know what’s going to happen. I’m going to end up in the middle of this.”

Farmington Mayor Ernie Penn, who served as a pallbearer at Bailey’s funeral service, said Bailey was the driving force in starting the Farmington Chamber.

“I was just thinking about all the things he had done while at the funeral service,” Penn said Monday. “Joe was a go-getter and not afraid to go out and ask for money. He was always looking to make Farmington better. He made Farmington his home even though he didn’t live here.”

Cornwell said Bailey had a passion for the Farmington Area Chamber of Commerce. He was a natural born salesman and soon called on individuals and businesses in northwest Arkansas, encouraging them to join the Farmington Chamber.

“He just did it by going to see people,” Cornwell said.

Bailey’s initial goal was to have 50 members by the end of 2001. After three months, the chamber had 70 members and within six months, Bailey had helped to recruit more than 100 chamber members.

Bailey received several awards in Farmington over the years. After he retired as chamber president, the Chamber Board of Directors honored him with a lifetime membership at their annual banquet. He was one of the first recipients to receive a “key to the city” from Penn. He received a “Dedicated Service Award” from the chamber in 2006, and was named Citizen of the Year by the Farmington Chamber in 2011.

In June 2012, Ron Wright, former superintendent of Farmington schools, recognized Bailey with a Special Friend of the Farmington School District award. Wright had resigned to accept a new position in Arkadelphia and honored five individuals for their contributions to the school district.

In presenting Bailey his plaque, Wright thanked Bailey for his friendship and support of Farmington schools.

“I’ll miss lots of folks but very few will I miss more than Joe Bailey,” Wright said at the June 2012, Farmington School Board meeting.

Monday, Wright said Bailey had one of those personalities that was “larger than life.” Everywhere they went, Bailey knew people and knew their families and their histories.

“Joe Bailey was who he was. Joe Bailey didn’t put on a lot of pretense,” Wright said, adding Janell Bailey was a favorite substitute teacher at all the schools. Wright added that Bailey was “always in our corner when it came to public education.”

Cornwell said he and his wife were good friends with the Baileys. When Janell died, the two men became closer friends and Cornwell said he would pick up Bailey most Saturday mornings and they would go eat breakfast together.

“His health was failing and he wasn’t able to drive very much,” Cornwell said. “Saturday mornings will never be the same for me. I’m going to miss him.”

Bailey