Gary Bailey

Memorial Mass for Gary Kenyon Bailey, 72, will be celebrated at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church at 10:30 a.m. Monday. A celebration of life at Fiesta Grande RV Resort will begin at noon. Another Mass is planned in Lancaster, Calif., on April 25.
Mr. Bailey died on Dec. 20, 2010. He was born on Sept. 13, 1938, in Minneapolis. After serving aboard the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, he finished his tour of duty with VF-124, known as the “Gunfighters,” at Naval Air Station Moffett Field near Mountain View, Calif. Upon moving to the Los Angeles area, he became involved with the Huntington Park Jaycees, where he enjoyed chairing various educational and community programs. He also started a YMCA Gray-Y Club at the Congregational Church he attended. He started skiing, hiking and backpacking again, something he enjoyed most of his life. His involvement with the Sierra Club consisted primarily of hiking until he finished the Basic Mountaineering Training Course. With that, he completed winter ascents of Mount San Gorgonio and Mount Baden-Powell.
After moving to Lancaster in the 1960s, he spent the next 25 years involved in the backpacking and snow ski business. One of the many joys of winter was skiing with his family and friends. He became active in his community as a volunteer in the Admitting Department of Antelope Valley Hospital. He was active at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Lancaster. Once his son, Erik, became involved in Boy Scouts, he cheerfully became Troop 39’s committee chairman. He also chaired the scoutmaster training program for the High Desert District. He served on the Eagle Scout Board of Review committee with some of the most highly regarded men and women in scouting. In 2005 he and his wife set off on a new adventure of full-time RV’ing with the Escapees RV Club and the Hekowies, a local Lancaster RV club. He always looked forward to the camaraderie and friendships that developed around the evening campfires at RV club outings. When they moved to Fiesta Grande RV Resort in Casa Grande, he joined the Signal Peak Toastmasters Club, earned the Competent Communicator award and was membership chairman from 2007 to 2009.
He learned to view life as a great adventure whether it involved family, friends or the next fork in the road.
He is survived by his wife and best friend of 33 years, Antoinette “Toni” Cifarelli-Bailey; a son, Erik Bailey of McKinleyville, Calif.; a daughter, Kristina Dalton of San Diego; a brother, Ronald Bailey of Minneapolis; and a grandson.
J. Warren Funeral Services, Cole & Maud The Gardens Chapel is in charge of arrangements.