JAMES B. "JIM" BAILIE

Mueller's Tri-Cities Funeral Home

Jim was born in Pasco, Washington, December 8, 1941, to J.C. (Chet) and Fern Bailie. He passed away on May 12, 2014, at the age of 72.

After graduating from Pasco High School in 1960, Jim joined the U.S. Air Force with his classmate and lifelong friend, Jerry James. After his discharge Jim returned to Pasco and went to work as a fireman for the Northern Pacific Railroad. During this time Jim continued to pursue his interest in aviation by taking flying lessons. One of his proudest days was the day he earned his flight instructor rating. Jim continued by taking a job with the FAA as an air traffic controller at the Seattle Air Route Traffic Control Center in Renton, WA. It was while there that he met the love of his life, Patty Padelford. They were married on August 5, 1972, in Sunnyside, WA. Jim and Patty returned to Pasco where they started their family. Jim worked at Twin City Motor Supply. In 1980, Jim realized his lifelong dream of being self-employed when he purchased Connell Auto Parts, in Connell, WA. For the next 22 years, Jim and Patty made Connell their home. It was there they raised their daughters Brooke and Jaime, while Jim worked at the auto parts store and Patty taught at Connell Elementary School. In 1985, Jim expanded the business when he built a new parts store in Basin City, WA, Basin City Auto Parts. Jim retired in 2002, after 30 years in the NAPA Auto Parts business. He and Patty returned to Pasco, moving into the Sun Willows golf community where they enjoyed activities with their friends and neighbors and also traveling.

From his earliest days, Jim always had an interest in cars. It started with a Model T Ford that he and his good friend Ed Pfister overhauled at the ripe old age of 13. Jim and Ed had great fun driving that Model T all over the Riverview area of west Pasco, as it was out in the country in those days. Another place they liked to drive was out in the farming blocks north of Pasco. All of this was not without risk however; their biggest fears were that they would be caught by the sheriff, or worse yet, their parents. Fortunately, those fears never became a reality. The height of their glory was when they got to ride in the Model T during a Pasco Water Follies parade. More recently, Jim co-founded the Connell Daze Car Show and he took real pleasure in doing a full restoration of Patty's first new car, her 1969 Dodge Charger.

Jim loved and enjoyed his family. He loved supporting his girls in their school athletics and attending state tournaments. He was also proud to attend Dad's Weekends at WSU with his girls. Jim enjoyed traveling, dining out and meeting new friends. He also enjoyed the out-of-doors while fishing and camping. One of his favorite things to do was spending time with his family on the Oregon Coast. His three grandchildren, Bailie, Emily and Rylan always held a special place in Papa Jim's heart.

Jim is survived by his wife Patty of Pasco, daughter Brooke Godwin (Kevin) and granddaughter Bailie, of Boise, ID; daughter Jaime Flanigan (Kerri) and grandkids Emily and Rylan of Burbank, WA; sisters, Barbara Kniveton (Ken) of Eltopia, WA; and sister Marcia Plows (Dave Miller) of Henry Island, WA; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents Chet and Fern Bailie and brother-in-law Dick Plows.

Jim felt blessed to have been a 36-year cancer survivor. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Tri-City Cancer Center (7350 W. Deschutes Ave., Bldg A Kennewick, WA 99336), The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Donate) in the name of Brooke Godwin or Jaime Flanigan, or The American Heart Association (http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/) in the name of Rylan Flanigan.

Memorial services will be Saturday, May 31, 2014, at 11 a.m., at Mueller's Tri-Cities Funeral Home, 1401 S. Union St., Kennewick.

The family invites you to sign their online tribute wall at www.muellersfuneralhomes.com.