W.Frank Bailey

Bailey, W. Frank. of Treasure Island, passed away Monday, October 11, 2010. He was born in Ashburn, GA, but grew up in the Dade City/San Antonio area, where he graduated from St. Leo Preparatory High School. He attended Pathways Community Church in Largo. Frank served with the St. Petersburg Police Department and the Florida Highway Patrol. He went on to work for Shell Oil, and retired as a Senior Clerk at the Port Tampa Plant. He was preceded in death by his parents Loyal J. Bailey and Mary Eldridge Bailey; brothers Loyal, Henry, and Jabes; sisters Eunice and Monnie. He is survived by spouse Jimmie R. Bailey; daughters Dane E. Nielsen, Dunedin, Cindy J. Hernandez, Tampa, and Anita R. France, Clearwater, and son John A. Bailey, Ireland; 10 grandchildren; and 4 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews and other family and friends, all of whom will miss him every day. There will be a visitation with refreshments from 4:00 to 7:00 PM, funeral service at 7:00 on Thursday at Anderson McQueen Tyrone Center. Committal service will be held at Memorial Park Cemetery on Friday at 10:00 AM. Woodrow Frank Bailey, 84 passed Monday, October 11, 2010. He was born in Ashburn,Ga and at 10 days old came to San Antonio, Florida. He always said, "I wasn't born in Florida but I got here as quick as I could"! Early childhood reminiscing included helping in the kitchen with his grandmother who taught him to cook at an early age and also taught him to appreciate the one cooking. He attended St. Leo Preparatory school when there wasn't work in the field to be done, he hated missing school and tried very hard to keep up with his studies. Even at a young age, Frank valued education. His grandchildren attribute Frank's wisdom of, "the more you learn, the more you earn" as the voice in their head reminding them that education is a way to improve one's life. The times were hard and like many children, Frank was required to work as an adult, long hours and difficult working conditions clearing land and working the field. At age 14 Frank was driven away from home and on that day Frank decided to stay in the San Antonio area and finish high school at St. Leo. Frank lived hand to mouth with odd jobs and sleeping under the Train Depot or at the local orange processing company. Frank always remembers a kindness and told us of Father Ernest Schultz who was the Director at St. Leo Preparatory school. He spoke of seeking out Father Ernest at the entrance wall of the school, "I thought I was helping Father Ernest from being lonely, and now I know Father Ernest was helping me". Those conversations at "the wall" gave Frank a mentor of Christian love, kindness, and gentlemanly demeanor. Unbeknown to Frank at the time, this relationship formed much of Frank's overall philosophy and also kept Frank from becoming bitter over the harshness of his life. Frank moved to his Aunt Estelle's who gave him a roof over his head and extended what little she had to a nephew who had been struggling to survive on the streets. This kindness was repaid in chores. Later on when Frank had managed to buy an auto upgrade, he took the used car, which was still in good working order and gave his Aunt Estelle a ride. The nickel in her apron pocket became the price for Aunt Estelle to become owner of that vehicle. Just Frank remembering a kindness. When Frank graduated high school he and a good friend went to enlist in the army to support WWII. Frank failed his physical and was left watching his friend leave without him at his side. The Port of Tampa had become a burgeoning activity of warship building and Frank at 19 managed to get a job as a welding apprentice. He was the youngest man working for the shipbuilder; he worked very hard but valued the benefits of a steady income. When the war was over Frank joined the St. Petersburg Police Department and later became a State Trooper. He stayed with the force until moving on to work at Shell Oil in Port Tampa. Frank forged life-long friendships at Shell and within the community. Even in retirement, he continued to build strong friendships with those around him; nurse's caring for him, friends exercising at the Y, and waitresses at a favorite diner. Frank had earned a reputation as a fair man, respectful to all through Christian love, kindness and gentlemanly demeanor. In many ways Frank had become the "Father Ernest" mentor for many of us throughout his life.