Oval Bailey

Oval Bailey, age 85 of West Liberty, KY passed away on March 11th, 2024. He was born on the
26th day of the seventh month of the year 1938 in Salyersville KY, to the late Lloyd Bailey and
the late Carmie Hall Bailey.
He is survived by his daughter Becky (Donnie) Wheeler of West Liberty, Ky, 2 steps sons: Mark
Arnett and Dona (Terisa) Arnett both of Salyersville, KY, granddaughter Megan (Rick) Burke of
West Liberty, KY, grandson Joshua (Sydney) Wheeler of Richmond, KY, 3 step grandchildren:
Ryan (Shawna Arnett), Shane (Stephanie) Arnett and Jessica (Jonathan) Arnett all of
Salyersville, KY. 2 great-grandchildren: BaileeAnn Burke and Evelyn Burke, and six step
great-grandchildren: Maggie, Sierra, Gabe, Ruthie, James, and Spencer and by a sister Faye
Vest (West Liberty, KY). Preceded in death by his parents, 3 sisters: Fairy Dean Lykins, Phyllis
Lykins, and Justine Bailey, and 2 brothers Orbin and Carlos Bailey.
Oval was a hard worker all of his life, he dropped out of school in the 8th grade to work with his
dad, logging. He was a jack of all trades: highway work, carpentry, baking and gardening. He
built a lot of houses in Salyersville, and his grandchildren enjoyed driving through pointing out all
the houses he built. His garden was a thing of wonders- He could grow green beans, corn and
tomatoes like no one else. His friends were often the recipients of his 30 day cakes, amish
bread and garden produce. Oval was a very talented musician and singer. He loved “picking
and grinning” with his buddies at the Low Gap church, and the only thing that made him happier
was when his grandchildren joined him. He was a Christian and knew that he would be in
heaven after death.
His family was the light of his life. He loved his daughter Becky dearly, and he would say she
was his pride and joy. More than anything, he enjoyed “picking” on her. He taught both of his
grandchildren how to play the guitar, and spoiled them rotten. He moved to Morgan County
when his great-granddaughters were young and lived right behind them. Thus began frequent
visits to Wah Wah Pap’s house to get cookies and root beer. He enjoyed teaching his
grandchildren carpentry and was frequently called upon to fix projects gone wrong. He was
always there, when he was needed. In his eyes, the “in-laws” could never do wrong. He was
beyond proud of all of his family but he also knew how to “tell it like it was”.
Oval was a firm believer in right and wrong, and if you were wrong, he knew how to make you
right. He was dearly loved by all. He never met anyone that didn’t immediately start calling him
Papaw and fell in love with him. Every time he was in the hospital, the entire staff would fall in
love with him because he tried so hard to make everyone smile and laugh. He was very
attached to all of his caregivers during his recent illness and called them all “his girls”. He was
stubborn, feisty and a little bit contrary but it just made him all the more loved. He will be so very
missed by all.
Funeral service 1 p.m., Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at the Potter Funeral Home, with Bro. Donnie Wheeler & Rick Burke officiating.  Burial to follow in the Bailey & Burke Family Cemetery, Zag Road, West Liberty, KY.  Visitation 6 p.m., Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at the funeral home.

Pallbearers:  Joshua Wheeler, Rick Burke, Mark Arnett, Dona Arnett, Ryan Arnett, and Shane Arnett.

Honorary Pallbearers:  BaileeAnn Burke and Evelyn Burke.

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