MILTON A. BAILEY

PRESQUE ISLE – Milton A. Bailey, 86, died March 21, 2005, at his home. He was born in 1919, in Caribou, the son of Parker K. and Margaret Mary (Moran) Bailey. He was predeceased by his wife of 57 years, Gretchen Cecelia (Giggey) Bailey. He was a communicant of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Presque Isle. He graduated from Caribou High School, Class of 1936. He also attended Maine School of Commerce (Husson) in Bangor, Class of 1937, and continued to study courses in Accounting and Sales Management from LaSalle Extension University of Chicago, Ill. During the Depression in 1937, he established a neighborhood grocery story at 5 Delmont St., Presque Isle, which lasted until 1952. He was an accountant and salesman with Armour Fertilizer Works for 20 years. In 1940, he and his father founded Parker K. Bailey & Sons Moving and Storage Company. They and Milton’s brother, Kendall, owned and operated S & S Storage Service also. Milton owned Baileywyck Apartments on Strawberry Bankes Road in Presque Isle from 1973-1993. He was active in many civic, business and fraternal organizations as an officer or committee member. Among them were the Boy Scouts of America, Knights of Columbus, American Legion, Kiwanis Club, Maine Mover’s Association, Maine and National Congress of Parents and Teachers, SAD No. 1 School Board, Toastmasters Club, National Association of Accountants, National Association of Personnel Administrators. Milton was on the Governor’s Committee on Secondary Education, and a committee to establish a Maine Archives Building. Then Rep. Olympia Snowe appointed him to the Maine committee to help plan and attend the 1980 Small Business Conference, in Washington, D.C., followed by Gov. Brennan’s Blaine House Small Business Conference of 1981. He enjoyed fishing, canoeing, tennis, golf, and skiing, but running was his favorite sport. He was a member of the Aroostook Musterds Running Club. In 1981, his fellow runners voted him Runner of the Year, and his name was inscribed on the Sam Ouellette Family Traveling Trophy. During his yearly stays in Florida, he ran many races in that state. He ran his last race in 1998. In the summer of 1936, he attended the Citizens’ Military Training Camp at the Coast Guard Facility on Great Diamond Island in Portland Harbor. Upon induction into World War II Army Service in October 1943, he was assigned to the 704th Military Police Battalion in Boston. He was sent to Houlton, to help establish and administer a German Prisoner of War Camp from June 1944 to May 1946. Upon discharge May 15, 1946, he was awarded the Army Commendation Ribbon for “initiative and perseverance far beyond the requirements of his official duties,” and was assigned to the 1128th Military Government Reserve unit in Presque Isle. On June 13, 1951, he was commissioned a Warrant Officer JOGD in the Maine National Guard and assigned to the 152nd Field Artillery Battalion as the Personnel Officer. He was discharged April 30, 1953. His years at the Houlton POW camp precipitated his research into the era years later. The results of his research were published in Echoes Magazine in a five-part series in 2003. He was fortunate enough to attend a reunion in Houlton in 2003 for returning prisoners of war who had come back to see the site of the camp and reminisce with local people about those days. Milton was a loving, caring son, husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his two daughters, Susan P. Bailey of Ellsworth, and Karla A. Bailey of Athens; his aunt, Margaret P. Bailey, of Caribou; a brother, Gary F. Bailey, of Madawaska; two sisters, Claudine E. McClure, of Yuba City, Calif., and Elizabeth M. Hanley, of Southport, Fla.; granddaughter, Bronwen Pierson of Brewer; grandsons Branden Pierson of Falmouth; Gregory Beckwith of Topsham, and Mark A. Voisine of Athens; four great-grandchildren, Finn Pierson Wardwell, Ellie Rose Pierson, Brady Hewitt Pierson, and Parker Russell Pierson. He is also survived by loyal friends and caregivers, Lois Haines, Rose Lowe, and Vonda Blackstone. He was predeceased by brothers, Parker E. Bailey, and Kendall A. Bailey. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Monday, March 28, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Presque Isle, with the Rev. Alfred Irving, celebrant. Relatives and friends may call at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers donations could be sent to the Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library, 39 Second St., Presque Isle, ME 04769, designating the money for large print books. Arrangements are in the care of the Duncan-Graves Funeral Home.