Norman George Bailey

GARDINER -- Norman George Bailey, 84, of Gardiner died Wednesday May 18, 2011 at Maine General Hospital, Augusta of complications from surgery.

Norman was born in Gardiner on March 1, 1927. He was the son of George Warren Bailey and Bessie Mabel (Weeks) Bailey.

He grew up in Gardiner then enlisted in the Navy duri9ng his junior year in high school, serving on the ship USS Helena in April 1945 until August 1946 after the war ended. He returned home to finish his high school education, graduating in June 1948 from Gardiner High School.

He married his "sweetheart," as he affectionately called her, Mabel Ida Ash, on June 14, 1953.

Through the years, Norman worked at many jobs. His family remembers when he would work two and three jobs at a time. He worked for his father at Bailey Power Equipment, and later for Bridge Construction and Romac Construction. He later worked as a nurse's aide for Gardiner General Hospital and the Veterans Administration at Togus from which he retired in 1989. He also worked as a warehouse employee and truck driver for Kirschner/Northcenter Food Service where he retired again in 1994.

Norman loved helping others and would spend many of his hours working with people to help them walk again or get over a phobia, or just to help to relieve their pain. All this was done between the two and three jobs that he had or even on the job. He would never accept pay for any of his help because he always said that the Lord blessed him with the ability to help others, and he was afraid that if he were to charge for his services then the ability would be taken from him. He lived his life in the service of others.

He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Attending church with his family was a priority in his life and his testimony of the Savior served his family well. He always lived his life as an example of the Savior's teachings. We are sure his influence will be felt and seen for many generations to come.

One of his hobbies was a love for beekeeping that kept the family supplied with honey. He enjoyed singing little jingles like "John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt" and "Two Little Fishes," etc. and liked playing the harmonica from time to time. He always had a sense of humor and loved to tinker and jerry-rig things. He also enjoyed the once-a-year camping trips to Baxter State Park as a family where they hiked mountains, took canoe trips, enjoyed campfires and, of course, those entertaining raccoons, beavers and other wildlife.

He was predeceased by his wife, Mabel Ida (Ash) Bailey; his parents, George Warren and Bessie Mabel Bailey; and two brothers, Robert Bailey and Calvin Bailey.

He is survived by his five daughters, Norma Ruth Ociepka and husband Richard of Vassalboro, Margaret Ann Harvey and husband Gregory of Vassalboro, Naomi Elizabeth Bosell and husband Lance of Utica, N.Y., Teresa Carol Slack and husband Walter of Minot, N.D. and Tamara Jean Beeckel and husband John of Augusta, Maine, a brother, Walter Bailey of West Gardiner; brother John Bailey of Peabody, Mass.; 26 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren.

Special thanks to everyone at MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta, from surgeons to nurses and housekeeping, for the excellent care they gave to our dad and family. Everyone was so caring, thoughtful and informative.

Visiting hours will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner.

A memorial service will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Hasson Street, Farmingdale. Reception and burial will follow. Burial will be in Libby Hill Cemetery on Libby Hill Road, Gardiner, on the family lot.

Memorial donations may be made to the welfare fund or the ward missionary fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints c/o Norma Ociepka, 142 Cushnoc Road, Vassalboro, ME 04989.

Condolences may be expressed at staplesfuneral home.com.