Kenneth Bailey

Waynesville,  Kenneth David Bailey, age 89, passed away on Saturday, June 20, 2021 at the Solace Center in Asheville.

Kenneth was born November 13, 1931 in Birmingham, Alabama to the late George H. Bailey of Birmingham and Annabelle Ford Bailey of Knoxville, Tennessee.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Jane Stansell and his second wife, Erwin Anderson; and two brothers, Charles and Don Bailey, both from Birmingham, Alabama.

Kenneth attended and graduated from Shades Valley High School in Birmingham in 1950.  He served in the United States Navy from 1950 -1954.  Kenneth attended Auburn University and graduated in June of 1958 with a BS degree in Forest Management.  After graduating, he moved to Pensacola, Florida and was employed by St. Regis Paper Company.  While employed by St. Regis, he lived in Alabama, Florida and South Carolina.

In 1984 St. Regis was bought by Champion International Corporation.  Kenneth moved to Greenville, South Carolina in 1985 and retired in 1995 as Vice President of Southern Timberlands.  During his employment with St. Regis and Champion International, Kenneth served in numerous trade organizations that promoted good forest practices on private lands as well as industry owned lands.  After his retirement, Kenneth made his home in Waynesville.  He was a longtime member of First United Methodist Church in Waynesville where he served as an usher and was a member of Faith Sunday School Class.  Kenneth was an avid golfer and a member of Laurel Ridge Country Club where he won the Senior Club Championship seven times, once shooting a 68 on the course.  His favorite foursome at Laurel Ridge included David Blevins, Bruce Powell, and Ron Muse.  He served on Haywood Christian Ministries Committees regarding annual fundraising events.

Kenneth married Jane Stansell in 1956 in Birmingham, Alabama and had three children, Debbie Bailey of Pensacola, Florida, Kathy Flanagan (Steve) of Yulee, Florida, David Bailey (Brenda) of Seattle, Washington.  In 1980 he married Erwin Anderson from Johnson City, Tennessee along with her two children, Warren Anderson of Winston Salem, North Carolina and Dorothy Richardson (Jimtom, Jr.) of Clyde, North Carolina; grandchildren, Ryan Anderson (Stevie) of Asheville, North Carolina, Justin Anderson (Carla) of Ecuador, Reymonn Santo (Kourtney) of Jacksonville, Florida and Taylor Bailey of Seattle, Washington; daughter-in-law, Roxann Zeitlin (Jeff); and three great-grandchildren, Roland Santo, Sylvie Anderson and Avi Alverson-Latham.

Ken missed Erwin a great deal during the past three years, often telling stories of fun times they had together.  He was truly a "man’s man" and was respected and admired by everyone he came in contact with; his office staff, corporate executives in Manhattan, and loggers who worked the piney woods of the southeast.  Kenneth was a wonderful "listener", endearing himself to all his family and many close friends.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 10, 2021 at First United Methodist Church of Waynesville with Reverend Dr. Keith Turman officiating.  A reception will follow at the church.

Memorial gifts may be made to Haywood Christian Ministries, 150 Branner Avenue, Waynesville, NC 28786 or First United Methodist Church of Waynesville, P.O. Box 838, Waynesville, NC 28786.

The care of Mr. Bailey has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville.