Kermitt Rodney Bailey died peacefully on October 15, 2026, in Norman, Oklahoma, with his wife Margaret and family by his side. He was born in Calais, Maine on August 2, 1939, to Charles and Roberta (Crowe) Bailey. He grew up in Princeton, Maine and Hartford, Connecticut.

Rodney graduated from Hartford Public High School in 1957 and served in the Air Force where he met Margaret Ellis while stationed at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City. They were married 65 years and lived in Connecticut, Florida and Oklahoma.

Rod was a quality control engineer and spent the tail end of his career working at Home Depot (“Home Despot”) in the paint department so he could continue to hassle and entertain consumers. While in Connecticut, when he wasn’t busy with family, he drove the bus to pick up children in the area and bring them to church. He was one of a kind.

Throughout his life, Rodney found joy in anything outside including hunting, fishing, camping, working in the yard and baseball (especially the Yankees) and loved being around people. Whether that be family and friends or a stranger at Wal-Mart, he would go out of his way to convey kindness, spend time getting to know someone and reflect God’s love for them.

He deeply loved his wife of 65 years and hated to be away without her. He was a loving father who spent valuable time with his children and was beyond proud of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and did his best to indoctrinate his family in learning the card game 63!

Rodney leaves behind his three children, Timothy, Kym and her husband, Brian, and Scott and his wife, Amy. He is also survived by five grandchildren — Joshua, Kaleigh, Nathan, Lucy, and Stella — and three great-grandchildren — Adelynn, Sutton, and Judah.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Christine, and her husband, “Butch”, as well as his brother, Don. He is survived by Don’s wife, Pat, along with Dad’s Ellis in-laws, Wayne and Pat Bullard, Suzy Cook and Theda Ellis.

A memorial service will be held 2:00 p.m. Friday, October 23rd, at the First Baptist Church, Allen, Oklahoma, with the burial to follow at Allen Cemetery. A light reception will be held at the Family Life Center at Allen First Baptist Church immediately following the graveside service. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Dale K. Graham Veterans Foundation 1233 West Lindsey Street Norman, OK 73069.