Howard Lee Bailey

Howard Lee Bailey, age 81, of Manassas, Virginia, passed away on Monday, May 30, 2016. He was born on May 16, 1935, in Baileysville, West Virginia, the son of the late James Elmer and Nellie Ella (Morgan) Bailey. He was a retired building supervisor for Fairfax County Public Schools. Survivors include his loving wife, Freda (Harvey) Bailey; four children, Cathy L. Torkos and husband Richard, Debra K. Alt and husband Tom, Gary L. Bailey and wife Margarete, and Karen O. Bailey; two sisters, Sharon Ritter and Patricia Morgan; one step-brother Stanley Mitchell; seven grandchildren, James C. H. Tanner, Danielle N. Jaderborg, Matthew C. L. Bailey, Zachary G. Bailey, Ashley M. Dove, Kirsten A. Torkos, and Jessica T. Martin; and three great grandchildren, Kyler P. Jaderborg, Mason R. Bailey, and JaiLynn T. Martin. Howard was born to a family of 11. He met the love of his life Freda Bailey (Harvey) in 1957 when he was 22 years old. He often told the story of how they met. He was driving down the road when he saw the most prettiest girl in a white coat walking down the railroad tracks to the local “hang out.” There they met and, soon thereafter, they fell in love and married on November 1, 1957. In September 1958, Howard and Freda became loving parents when their first daughter was born. After their second daughter was born two years later, Howard and Freda moved to Fairfax, Virginia, where he started his career with Fairfax County Public Schools as a custodian. He worked hard and through his dedication and skilled abilities, he retired as a building supervisor for Lake Braddock High School. Howard and Freda bought their first and only house around 1961 in Manassas, Virginia. Here they created a foundation for their growing family adding a son and a third daughter by the time Freda was 24 and Howard was 32. As a father, he emphasized the importance of education. Howard being born during the depression, having a large family, and in the coal mining area of West Virginia, he did not graduate from high school as he had to work to help support his family. But during his years at Fairfax County Public Schools, he earned his G.E.D. which for him was a major accomplishment and one he was very proud of. Howard was a proud man and a “jack of all trades.” His passion was fishing and hunting and spending time with his wife and family at the Shenandoah River. Every Friday, after school was out, he would load the family in the truck/camper and head to “The River.” He loved the outdoors and Howard and Freda would work hard to build and maintain what you would call a “country resort.” Spending time with his wife and beloved family in this way was his most prized possession. No matter the weather, it was home away from home, with the same comforts needed to escape the craziness and stress the “real world” created for those who had to work hard to place food and drink on the table. There you would find swimming, canoeing, volleyball, fishing, catching hellgrammites and night crawlers, horseshoes - to simply roasting marshmallow’s around the fire pit where he would always compete with the neighbors to see who could build the largest fire. So many fond memories of “family bonding” that family and friends will cherish always. Nothing fancy, nothing expensive, just good inexpensive fun and family time. The family will receive friends from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Sunday at Pierce Funeral Home, 9609 Center Street, Manassas, Virginia. Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m. Monday, June 6, 2016, at the Parkland Emmanuel Church of God, 8709 Parkland Street, Manassas, Virginia. Interment will follow at Stonewall Memory Gardens, 12004 Lee Highway, Manassas, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Parkland Emmanuel Church of God, c/o Freda Bailey, 7411 Bull Run Road, Manassas, VA, 20111.

Howard Lee Bailey

May 16, 1935 - May 30, 2016