Bailey

James “Jim” David Bailey, 89, of Emlenton, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 20, 2026, following a brief period of poor health.

Born July 27, 1936, in Grove City, Jim was the son of the late Harvey and Harriet Bailey. He spent a happy childhood working and playing on the family farm and attended school in the one room schools in Marion Township. He graduated from Grove City High School in 1954 and from Slippery Rock State Teachers College, now Slippery Rock University, in 1957.

He began his teaching career at the Forestville and Harmer elementary schools, where he taught fifth and sixth grades. After several years of teaching in the classroom, he became the librarian in the Slippery Rock Area elementary schools. In that role, Jim’s love of both literature and theater came together in memorable ways. Over the course of his career, his dramatic and animated style of reading aloud engaged several generations of children and inspired a love of reading in his young audiences.

Jim was an active member of Calvary OPC church and cared deeply about his church family. He served as an elder and Sunday school teacher for most of his adult life.

In his youth, he enjoyed driving to pick up friends to take with him to church. One of those friends was Margaret Currie, and their friendship became a lifelong marriage. They were married on Aug. 15, 1963, at Rocky Springs Church, in Harrisville. Together, they raised five children and were blessed with five grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. Jim frequently and enthusiastically informed anyone he was talking to that his grandchildren were indeed the gold of his golden years.

In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Evelyn (Currie) Bailey; his son, Bradley Kirk Bailey; and his grandson, Dean James Sutton.

He is survived by his children, Marsha (Stephen) Johnson, Patty Bailey, Jeannie (Chad) Sutton and Andy (Jamie) Bailey; his grandchildren, Olivia (Daniel) Burgher, Nathan Johnson, Jacqueline Sutton and Sara Sutton; and his great-granddaughter, Shiloh Burgher.

Jim’s faith was unshakable and, in his passing as in his life, his constant prayer for all those that he loved was Psalm 62:8, “Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”

BAILEY — Family of James “Jim” David Bailey, who died Friday, March 20, 2026, will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, March 27, at JAMISON MCKINLEY FUNERAL HOME, 117 N. Main St., Harrisville.

Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 28, at Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church, 443 N. Main St., Harrisville, with the Rev. Peter J. Puliatti officiating.

Friends and family can email condolences by visiting www.jamisonfuneralhome.com.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.