Clarence Junior Bailey

RUMFORD -– Clarence Junior Bailey, 90, of South Andover passed into the arms of Jesus, his Savior and Lord, on October 5, 2012 at the Rumford Hospital.

He was born in Rumford on October 16, 1921 to Clarence Haskell Bailey and Winifred (Abbott) Bailey. Clarence attended Andover schools and graduated in 1939, and went to University of Maine studying Agriculture.

He is a veteran of World War II, having served in the Philippines and Japan.

Clarence was a dairy farmer all his life until he could no longer physically do it. He was a born again Christian and loved his Lord, anxiously awaiting the day he would meet him face to face in heaven. He was a founding member of the Calvary Bible Church in South Andover where he served his Lord faithfully until the present as a deacon, and for many years as church treasurer.

He was married June 30, 1944 to Frances Mae Nichols, who predeceased him in 1964. Together they had six children. In 1966 he married his present wife, Mary Gammon Rickards, and they had a daughter. He took her five children as his own, to make an even dozen! One big happy family!

He is survived by his wife, Mary of Andover, and his 11 children and their families: Rosalie and John Holliday of Bethel, Howard and Laurie Bailey of Andover, Barbara Dakin of Pottersville, NY, June and Mike Inman of Albany Township, Rick (Ernest) and Carole Rickards of West Peru, Barry and Sharon Rickards of Rumford, Donald and Barbara Bailey of Andover, Randall and Ginny Rickards of Union, Kathy and Brian Tibbetts of Bethel, Patty and Steve Wood of Warren, and Judy and Garth Conrad of Andover; a son-in-law, Jim Young of Bethel; and his only brother, Lester and Helen Bailey of Andover; 30 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren;.

He was predeceased by his wife, Frances; his daughter, Nancy Bailey Young; and his parents.

He was much loved and a respected man to all who knew him.