Obituary: Bailey, O. Leighton, Jr. “Buzz”
He died at home surrounded by his wife and children.
He was born in Spokane, WA, the son of Dr. Orlen Leighton Bailey, veterinary medicine, and Irene (Canfield) Bailey.
He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents, Superior Court Judge Henry (Alice) Canfield, and pastor and missionary to India George (Mary) Bailey.
Buzz and his family lived in Spokane and North Carolina during World War ll.
(His father a Lt.
Colonel, U.S. Army) Buzz attended military school in North Carolina, and graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane.
He attended Grays Harbor Jr. College on a football scholarship, before joining the U.S. Navy.
He served during the Korean War as a Corpsman.
Upon being discharged, he attended Gonzaga University.
Buzz married Bobbie Frazier of Walla Walla, a graduate of Sacred Heart School of Nursing.
Buzz and Bobbie have been best friends for 61 years.
Buzz, known as Lee in the car business, raised his children while working at Utter Motor Co. and Becker Buick.
As his older children entered high school, Buzz entered nurse’s training, pursuing a life long goal, a career in the medical field.
Buzz graduated with the final graduating class of the Sacred Heart School of Nursing in 1973.
He was accepted into the Sacred Heart School of Anesthesia.
He and Bobbie worked at SHMC together for many years.
Buzz was the Director of Anesthesia before retiring in 1996.
Buzz and Bobbie spent their retirement years traveling, attending and cheering on the Spokane Jets, Spokane Flyers, Spokane Chiefs, Gonzaga Bulldogs, and Seahawks.
They enjoyed summers boating on Lake Pend Oreille.
Buzz was a family man.
Although Buzz was an only child, he and Bobbie had six children: Scott (Judy) Bailey, Kim Bailey, Chris (Cheri’) Bailey, Shannon (Robert) Rowley, Jodi Bailey, and Jay (Jeni) Bailey.
He is also survived by 19 grand and great- grandchildren.
He had a great love for his family and friends.
Buzz is known as a man of integrity in business dealings and his personal life.
As stated by one of Buzz’s children, “My Dad will have no problems going through the pearly gates of Heaven because I never saw him wrong anybody, ever.
A lesson that will stay with me the rest of my life.”
Memorial contributions may be given to Catholic Charities, Sacred Heart School of Nursing Alumni, or Spokane Humane Society.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, March 26, 2015 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 302 S. Adams, Spokane Valley, Washington.
Private inurnment will take place at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.
Arrangements have been entrusted to: