James D. Bailey

James (Jim) David Bailey, 89, of Emlenton PA, passed away peacefully on March 20, 2026 following a brief period of poor health.

Born on July 27, 1936 in Grove City Pa, Jim was the son of the late Harvey and Harriet Bailey. He spent a happy childhood working and playing on the family farm and attended school in the one room schools in Marion Township. He graduated from Grove City High School in 1954 and from Slippery Rock State Teachers College (now Slippery Rock University) in 1957.

He began his teaching career at the Forestville and Harmer Elementary Schools where he taught 5th and 6th grades. After several years of teaching in the classroom, he became the librarian in the Slippery Rock Area Elementary Schools. In that role, Jim’s love of both literature and theater came together in memorable ways. Over the course of his career, his dramatic and animated style of reading aloud engaged several generations of children and inspired a love of reading in his young audiences.

Jim was an active member of Calvary OPC church and cared deeply about his church family. He served as an elder and Sunday School teacher for most of his adult life. In his youth, he enjoyed driving to pick up friends to take with him to church. One of those friends was Margaret Currie and their friendship became a lifelong marriage. They were married on August 15, 1963 at Rocky Springs Church in Harrisville, Pa. Together they raised five children and were blessed with 5 grandchildren and a great granddaughter. Jim frequently and enthusiastically informed anyone he was talking to that his grandchildren were indeed the gold of his golden years.

In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by his wife Margaret Evelyn (Currie) Bailey, his son Bradley Kirk Bailey, and his grandson Dean James Sutton.

He is survived by his children Marsha (Stephen) Johnson, Patty Bailey, Jeannie (Chad) Sutton, Andy (Jamie) Bailey; his grandchildren Olivia (Daniel) Burgher, Nathan Johnson, Jacqueline Sutton, Sara Sutton; and his great granddaughter Shiloh Burgher.

Jim’s faith was unshakable and, in his passing, as in his life, his constant prayer for all those that he loved was Psalm 62:8, Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

Family will receive friends on Friday, March 27, 2026 at the Jamison McKinley Funeral Home, 117 North Main Street, Harrisville PA from 5:00 p.m. till 7:00 p.m.   Funeral services will take place Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., at the Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church, 443 North Main Street, Harrisville PA with the Rev. Peter J Puliatti officiating. 

 Friends and family can email condolences by visiting www.jamisonfuneralhome.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of James D. Bailey, please visit our floral store.