William Earney Bailey Graveside services for William Earney Bailey, 90, of Cullman will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014 at Holly Pond Cemetery, Hospice Chaplain Don Froelich officiating.
Mr. Bailey died Sunday, Sept. 14 at Woodland Nursing Home. He was born Dec. 3, 1923 to Albert Noah and Allie Belle Cornelius Bailey. Earney was a 1940 graduate of Holly Pond High School where he met and married his wife of 54 years, Wynell Daniel. Shortly after their marriage he deployed to the Pacific with the U.S. Army where Earney served as a platoon sergeant for the 44th Tank Battalion until his discharge in October 1946. Earney earned a B.S. degree in Animal Science from Auburn University and got a job as the Assistant County Agent in Huntsville. Eventually Earney moved back to Cullman and started Earney Bailey Bulldozing which cleared and graded land all over Cullman County. In 1975, Earney entered the coal mining business which he continued until 1982 – mining in Alabama, Tennessee, and Peru. Earney worked hard his whole life and enjoyed every minute of it. He loved working with animals and enjoyed seeing his cattle rush into a new field of lush rye grass to fill their stomachs. Earney was the 4-H Club President for Alabama in his high school years. He served as President of the Cullman County Cattleman’s Association and as a Board Member for the Cullman County Board of Education. Mr. Bailey was a member of Berlin Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Mildred Williams; his wife of 54 years, Wynell Daniel Bailey; daughter & son-in-law, Patricia Bailey (Douglas) Johnson. Survivors include his daughter, Charlotte Bailey (Dennis) Haynes of Cullman; two sons, Michael (Susan) Bailey of Cullman; Melvin (Tress) Bailey of Cullman; twelve grand-children, Shanon Johnson Barnett; Kellie Johnson; Deena Haynes (David) Weston; Jonathan (Karena) Haynes; Caron (Nathan) McCarthy; Joshua (Beth) Haynes; David (Emily) Haynes; Katie Bailey; Megan Bailey (Tyler) Ayers; Mollie Bailey (Jody) Schafers; Calie Bailey (Tyler) Franklin; Luke Bailey; and 23 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Comfort Care Hospice.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 16. at Cullman Funeral Home.
