Bailey, Horace

29 Apr Bailey, Horace

July 26, 1911 – May 9, 2005

Horace Courtland (Bill) Bailey, 93, of Gaithersburg, Md., a direct descendant of the Bailey Family at Bailey’s Crossroads, Va., died May 9. Born July 26, 1911, he was the son of Horace Courtland Bailey Sr., of Bailey’s Crossroads, Va., and beloved husband of the late Julia J. Bailey.

Horace Bailey’s growing years were spent at the family farm “Maury” and he remembered well the area now called Seven Comers, Va. Mr. Bailey’s third great-grandfather purchased 526 acres in 1837 with the intent of storing a circus. It never happened because of his death. His son Lewis ran the farm and raised a large family there, nine boys and one girl. The family owned many circuses throughout out the years and it was later that James A. Bailey finally teamed up with P.T. Barnum and ran the “Barnum and Bailey Circus.”

Mr. Bailey worked for the Hecht Co. and Montgomery Wards for many years. He worked for APL in Howard Co., he also sold Insurance for Nationwide Insurance. He then worked for Johnson’s Flowers, Gaithersburg, Md., running the farm before it became the center it is today. He worked for Rossmoor Leisure World before retiring. He assisted with the “Old Timers” show at Montgomery County Fair until his death. Mr. Bailey was an avid and well-known gardener.

He is survived by one sister, Virginia McCalley of Kensington, Md.; and two sons, Michael C. Bailey of Germantown, Md.; and his wife, Mary Ellen; a second son, Samuel D. Bailey of Adamstown, Md. and his wife Stevie. He leaves four grandchildren, Hans and Kate Bailey of California, David Grauzlis of Adamstown, Md., Dr. Nancy Behram and her husband Dr. Steve Behram of Rockville, Md.; and one great-grandson, Cameron Drew Behram, also of Rockville, Md. He also will be missed by the girls, Billie and Dodie of Bailey’s Crossroads, Va.