Donald C. Bailey was a former banker who served as Anoka County's treasurer for almost 20 years until he retired in 1991, guiding the transition from an elected treasurer to an appointed position. Bailey, 87, died July 11 from stroke complications at a New Brighton nursing home, said his son, John Bailey.
Bailey was initially appointed treasurer to fill a mid-term opening. He rarely campaigned but repeatedly won re-election, his son said. The County Board decided to switch to appointed positions for treasurer, auditor and recorder in 1991, and Bailey helped make the transition smooth, said County Administrator Terry Johnson. Johnson, finance director at that time, said Bailey had "unquestionable character and a very straightforward work ethic."
He also served in the U.S. Air Force in two wars and was a founder and half-century member of the Fridley-Columbia Heights chapter of Kiwanis, a service club.
Malcolm Watson said he helped Bailey found the local Kiwanis club in 1959. Bailey served as president and then treasurer for decades. He helped get the club in good financial shape, Watson said. Watson was the Columbia Heights city manager for about 20 years and said he met Bailey when Bailey was a vice president at Columbia Heights State Bank.
"He was a quiet, easygoing gentleman who was always there for us," Watson said. "He kept us on the straight and narrow and helped us stay out of financial trouble." Bailey was a good problem solver and helped the Kiwanis adjust expenses and make cuts to balance its books. "We were nicely in the black when he died" despite falling membership, Watson said.
The club has given scholarships each year to seniors at Fridley and Columbia Heights high schools and raised money years ago to build a cabin for handicapped kids at Camp Courage, Watson said. In recent years, Bailey helped make "cool ties" to cool Minnesota soldiers fighting in desert areas of Iraq.
The ties are cloth tubes with water absorbent crystals sewn inside. They were sent to the Red Bull division membersn who soaked them in water in the morning and wore them under armor vests for cooling during the day, Watson said. The unit sent a thank-you note with a picture of Red Bull soldiers, he added.
In his early years Bailey was a scoutmaster in Windom, Minn., said John Bailey, of Phoenix, Ariz. He said his dad was a generous, kind-hearted man who practiced his love of nature by using compost as fertilizer in his organic garden.
In addition to John, Bailey is survived by his wife of 49 years, Marlyce, of Fridley; children Robert, of Oakhurst, Calif.; Kathleen, of Fresno, Calif.; Scott, of Stacy, Minn., and David, of Ladysmith, Wis.; 10 grandchildren; one great grandson; and a brother, Allan "Dewey" Bailey, of St. Louis Park. Services have been held.
Jim Adams • 612-673-7658
