Ira Eugene Bailie MD died at home peacefully in his sleep on the morning of September 11th, 2018. He was 94 years old.
Born in Compton CA, on September 17, 1923 he was one of two sons (Gerald) to Ira and AltaMae Bailie.
As he often said, his life wildly exceeded anything he could have imagined.
He attended Compton schools until he was drafted into the Army Air Corp during WWII. He was trained as navigator/RADAR operator for C-47 transports. During his service he rose to the rank of Sergeant and participated in troop carrier sorties following D-Day and throughout the remainder of the war in Europe.
Upon returning home he worked in the oil fields while attending La Sierra College until he was accepted to the College of Medical Evangelists (now Loma Linda University Medical School). He graduated at the top of his class in 1952.
He and his wife Clara accepted a call to Asuncion, Paraguay to build and staff a mission hospital. Over the next two decades he built the hospital and witnessed revolutions in both Paraguay and Argentina, continued his medical training in Obstetrics & Gynecology and Surgery, and oversaw the building of a second hospital.
Upon returning to the United States he settled with his wife and four children in Turlock where he became a partner of Turlock Medical Clinic as a General Surgeon.
During his time there, both sons joined him in practice.
He was active in the Turlock Sunrise Rotary Club, American Cancer Society, and American Heart Association.
His wife of 44 years, Clara Naomi Jackson Bailie died unexpectedly in July of 1992 after which he travelled extensively in Russia to provide health lectures.
In 1993 he married Rita Farrar Norton Bailie who accompanied him to Banepa, Nepal for a three year mission assignment. While there, he served as medical director for Scheer Memorial Hospital and coordinated efforts to expand the single story hospital into a three story facility that included teaching rooms for nursing and medical students.
Upon his return to Turlock Dr. Bailie served as first assistant surgeon in the operating rooms of Emmanuel Medical Center until the age of 88, where his
encyclopedic knowledge and real world experience was appreciated by his colleagues.
A published author, he derived great enjoyment from crafting, submitting, and reading his letters to the Editor of the Local Newspapers.
However, his greatest satisfaction and pride came from knowing that the good education he provided for his children equipped 2 more doctors and 2 nurses to also serve their communities.
Ira is survived by:
Rita Farrar Norton Bailie MT, his wife of 25 years.
Daughters, Cheryl Mathews RN (Kenneth) & Karen Franke (Cy) RN
Sons, Daryl Bailie MD (Michelle) & Karlen Bailie MD (Teri)
10 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, and 12 additional children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren through marriage with Rita
From his humble beginnings in a tar paper shack in Compton to serving the health care needs of patients on 3 continents - and setting foot on all 7 - it was an exciting life.
A celebration of Ira and his adventures will be held on Veteran’s Day - Sunday, November 11th at 3 pm at the Turlock Seventh Day Adventist Church
Having experienced first hand – and also having seen the positive benefits that education can make to improve our world - Ira preferred that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the educational fund at:
Central Valley Christian Academy
2020 Academy Place
Ceres CA 95307
