Joseph E. Bailey, age 90, passed away September 11, 2026 at Rolling Hills Care Center in

Catoosa, Oklahoma due to late effects of a stroke which occurred in 2019.

He was born April 4, 1936 , in Salina, Kansas, a son of the late Joseph F. Bailey and

Chestina Hurt Bailey.

Joe married Sandra (Sandie) Dixon, October 10, 1980 and a job transfer for Joe moved them

to Tulsa November 1st, where they chose to continue living because of its proximity to

family and the wonderful, caring people they found there. They were not just husband and

wife but were also best friends who laughed, loved, and did everything together for 45

years, 11 months and 1 day, except volunteer and play bridge.

Joe attended Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In 1957 he began working for

Bryan Jackson Pump as a draftsman. During his 43-year career there and 2 years with

FlowServe, after a company merger, he held several positions. He retired from marketing

for submersible pumps, his favorite because of their interesting uses, which took him all

over the world. He was a Private Pilot and loved everything that went loud and fast, which

may explain his interesting golf game. After he retired, he was a Docent at the Tulsa Zoo for

3 years, drove a courtesy shuttle for Joe Cooper Ford for 5 years and for Jim Norton Toyota

for 5 years, followed by volunteering for the Oklahoma Aquarium at the Sea Turtle exhibit

for 7 years.

He is survived by his wife, Sandie of Tulsa; brother, Captain Thomas F. Bailey, USN (Ret.) of

Carlsbad, California; son, Joseph E. Bailey, Jr. of San Diego, California and 3 grandchildren;

his daughter, Leslie Van Ness (Carl) of Flagstaff, Arizona and 4 grandchildren and 4 great

grandchildren; step-son, David Dixon (Ronita Ryan) of Parkville, Missouri and 3

grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren (1 deceased), 3 great-great- grandchildren (1

deceased); and step-daughter, Dana Fike (David) of Catoosa, Oklahoma and 4

grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, along with other family and friends who will miss his

presence at family gatherings, his kindness, story-telling and quirky sense of humor.

A Celebration of Joe’s Life will be held Friday, November 27, 2026 at Schaudt’s Tulsa

Funeral Service and Cremation Care Center, 5757 S. Memorial Drive in Tulsa. 

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Joe’s memory to the Oklahoma Aquarium, 300 Aquarium Drive,

Jenks, Oklahoma 74037.