Obituary: Roger Clinton Bailey, 90, of Pentwater

Ruth and Roger Bailey

Roger Clinton Bailey of Pentwater passed peacefully at the age of 90 on Friday, April 17, 2026. He was with his beautiful bride Ruth. They were married for nearly 63 years. Roger was a gentle hearted man of enduring loyalty. He had many passions and interests, but he particularly loved his family, music, history, and the outdoors.

Roger was born April 1st, 1936, in Belding. He graduated from Pentwater High School in 1954 and went on to serve in the United States Army from 1954-1957. After a brief stint at West Lake College in Hollywood, Cali., where he studied to be a jazz drummer, he worked his way home to Pentwater when his father needed him to work in the Bailey Hardware Store. Roger spent two years at Michigan State College (now Michigan State University) before starting his career for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in 1961.

In 1962 Roger went on a blind date with Ruth Ann Woodward. Ed Bigelow introduced the two and stood as Roger’s best man at their wedding on June 15, 1963. Together they raised their three children, Mark, Christopher, and Lisa in the beautiful state parks of Michigan. From an early age Roger understood the importance of history. Roger and Ruth took many trips with their children to battlefields and historical sites. Upon his retirement to Pentwater he became the sexton of the village’s cemetery. He spent more than 50 years playing with the Pentwater Civic Band and the Scottville Clown Band as well as the MSU alumni band. He was seen countless times on the village green, parades, and venues across the state keeping the time on his snare drum.

If Roger was not at a concert or meeting for one of the many organizations he belonged to including the Gideons International, the Lions Club International Foundation, the Pentwater Historical Society, the Pentwater Men’s Service Club, the Oceana County Council on Aging, serving as the treasurer of St. James Episcopal Church as well as being Pentwater’s Citizen of the year in 2001, you would find him reading a non-fiction book about one historical event or another.

Roger and Ruth enjoyed their retirement in the same village as their sons and their four grandchildren. From drum lessons to vacations to picnicking with the Clown and Civic Band, Barry and Brandon Fitz and Evan and Sophia Bailey all spent many happy hours together.

Roger was preceded in death by his daughter Lisa; his parents, Les and Ada; his brother Robert; and sister Mary. As a lifelong Episcopalian, Roger is now enjoying a happy reunion with his daughter and family.

He is survived by his wife Ruth, his sons Mark and Christopher, Tammy Daggett, his grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren.

A service will be held in Pentwater on Thursday, August 13,, before the Scottville Clown Band and Pentwater Civic Band play the annual Les Bailey Memorial Homecoming Concert together on the Pentwater Village Green.

Arrangements were entrusted to Grace Funeral Home and Cremation Services, www.GraceCremations.com.