Donald Eugene Bailey

1954 - 2026

Donald Eugene Bailey
March 22, 1954 - March 12, 2026
Don Bailey peacefully made the transition to his heavenly home on March 12th surrounded by his loving family at his Montrose residence. He is a beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, Son, Brother, Uncle, Cousin, Mentor and Friend. Don is survived by his wife of 29 years, Ellen (Dunger) Bailey, and his children; son Noel Bailey (his wife Laura, their children Kaolin & Juniper) of Waitsfield, VT, and daughter Ann (Bailey) Crockett (her husband Micah, their son Oliver) of Montrose, CO, as well as his stepson Kyle Klingenberg, (his wife Maria and their son Tobias) of Littleton, CO, and stepdaughter Amanda Klingenberg (and her sons Julian & Jax) of Ft. Smith, AR. His surviving siblings are his sister Nancy Kulesa, of Anderson, IN, brother Bob Bailey, (Mary) of Longmont, CO, and brother Steve Bailey, (Kathy) of Decatur, IL. Don was preceded in death by his father Reverend Thomas Bailey, mother Mary Ann (Shaw) Bailey, and brother David Bailey.
Don was born March 22, 1954 in Delta, Colorado. His father's ministry moved the family around to various places including Montrose, where Don went to high school, and later graduated from Canon City High School in 1972. After trying his hand at ranching and home improvement, he traveled to the Chicago area and at the age of 21 became a licensed real estate agent and purchased his first properties.
After moving back to Montrose in 1980, he met and married Beasie Whaley and they became a family along with her daughters Melinda, Celeste & Brenda Miller. They welcomed their son Noel in 1981, and despite separating, they remained close friends and a part of the family throughout Don's life.
Don started Spring Creek Home Improvements in 1982, but in 1987 he realized his passion for real estate and obtained his Colorado license. He worked with various brokerages in Montrose including Coldwell Banker, Keinholz-Miller, RE/MAX, Montrose Real Estate Group and Berkshire Hathaway Home Services. Don loved his real estate career, especially the people he connected with along the way. His favorite listings were high country parcels where he could walk the land and feel close to God.
In May 1997, Don met Ellen at a Telluride festival, and it was true love at first sight. They were married in August of 1997, and this union produced one child, their daughter Ann, in 1999. Forever dedicated, Ellen was Don's personal assistant and partner in their real estate business through the entirety of their marriage.
As a pioneer and leader, Don was involved in many organizations during his lifetime including Kiwanis, Redcoats, Chamber of Commerce, Whole Life Network, Dances of Universal Peace, KVNF public radio, Montrose Association of Realtors, Colorado Association of Realtors, and Horsefly Volunteer Fire Protection.
Don enjoyed numerous hobbies over the years, from adventurous activities such as flying solo, skydiving, scuba diving, water sports, skiing, sailing, biking, running, hiking, 4wheeling and motorcycle riding, to more casual ventures including boating, fishing, hunting, camping, bodybuilding, Pilates and reading, and embracing his artistic side through woodworking, playing the piano, singing, drumming and painting. Above all, he was drawn to meditation, self-improvement and spiritual awakening.
While having a firm Christian foundation he was an eager student of life and seeker of truth, curious to discover more about the Great Mysteries of Life, he delved into traditional and esoteric wisdom teachings from various cultures and held many sacred ceremonies.
Don often said, "Our children are our greatest teachers." He was very proud of his children - they brought so much joy into his life. During the last few years, he was able to experience being a grandfather and had lots of fun playing with his grandchildren, who doted on their Papa. He delighted in the simple pleasures of life, sharing meals with family and friends, walking along the beach or in a forest, watching a sunset, feeling the sun on his cheeks or a warm breeze on a fresh spring day.
An authentic and genuine person who was loving, kind, thoughtful, generous and wise, Don was a deep thinker with big ideas and a huge moral compass who liked to put chaos into order. Don encouraged everyone to "Be Yourself", "Know Thyself", and "Keep it Simple" and was a big proponent of "Quality of Life" and "Living in the Moment".
Frequently, Don would pray for those in need of food and donated often to Sharing Ministries food bank. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the local food bank.
There will be a Celebration of Life service held for Don at Crippin Funeral Home Chapel on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at 1:00 pm. While attending the service, please honor Don by wearing colorful clothing, nautical attire, or whatever makes you most comfortable, as he would have wanted.