Jack Searcy Bailey

JACK SEARCY BAILEY passed away on Monday, March 20, 2017 at the age of 81. Jack served in the Naval reserves from 1953 until 1962. He earned his Bachelors of Arts degree from Texas Western University and his Master of Arts degree from the University of Arizona. Jack was a member of the Alpha Chi Honor Society, Whose Who of College Students, the Sigma Alpha Pi Spanish Honor Society, and the SAE Fraternity. Jack also published several articles in the Spanish Today Magazine and he was an accomplished poet—publishing poetry in Spain, Mexico and the US. He was a member of the El Paso Chapter of the Jaycees and was selected as a Personality of the South. Jack was hired as an Associate Professor of Spanish at the University of Texas at El Paso. In 1990, the University of Texas at El Paso's College of Business awarded him their teaching excellence award. In 1991, UTEP President Diana Natalicio recognized Jack for his distinguished service to the University. After retirement from UTEP, Jack traveled to England where he attended a teaching seminar at Oxford University, joined the El Paso Sherriff’s Posse, and he joined with artists and students from the Bosque School to create bi-lingual educational panels about the Rio Grande River that were permanently installed in overlooks of the river on the Montano Bridge in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Jack's passion was the Spanish language which he studied at both La Universidad Autonomo de Guadalajara, Mexico and at the Universidad Autonomo de Madrid. He also traveled extensively in Mexico and immersed himself in the culture and through his experiences came to deeply love and respect the Mexican people. He had a passion for horses and a kind heart for all animals and they loved him in return. He loved gardening, fishing, traveling, and collecting and smoking wooden pipes. He loved the outdoors--the forest, the desert, and the ocean. Jack had many accomplishments in his life but he always gave God all of the credit for his success. His faith home is St. Clément's Church where he was baptized, confirmed, and married. He also served as a Lay Reader and sang in the Acapella Men's Choir. Jack always held a deep and abiding love for his family. He loved to be surrounded by all of his children and his grandchildren. His happiest moments in life were those moments when the whole family was gathered together for Christmas, Thanksgiving, or special family trips. He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years Beverly Ann Bailey, his adult children; Catherine Elizabeth Bailey (Daniel Shaw), Kimberly Ann Watkins (James Watkins), Christy Lynn Bailey-Guinan (Richard Charles Guinan IV), Christopher Thomas Bailey (Jamie Enchinton de Bailey), his beloved grandchildren; Andrew James Watkins, Jackson Thomas Watkins, Richard Charles Guinan IV, Seamus Quinn Guinan, Kathryn Shaw, Roland Shaw (Elizabeth Shaw). Funeral Service will be held on Monday, March 27, 2017 at 11:00AM at Church of St. Clement, 1110 N. Campbell, with The Rev. Rick Milliorn and The Rev. Ron Thomson officiating. Pallbearers will be Christopher Bailey, Jim Watkins, Andrew Watkins, Jackson Watkins, Dan Shaw, Rick Guinan. Honorary Pallbearers: Mark Cloud and Devon Cloud. Interment will follow at Evergreen Alameda. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to St. Clement Parish School, 810 N. Campbell, El Paso, TX 79902 or Language and Linguistics Department, 500 West University Ave., El Paso, TX 79968 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 in honor of Jack Bailey. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home-West, 480 N. Resler Dr. Please visit our online registry at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net