Sisters marks passing of Tim Bailey

Tim Bailey died on Wednesday, August 23. He was diagnosed earlier this year with Mast Cell Disease. Despite treatment, he never recovered.

Bailey lived in Sisters for more than 30 years. He was working at Black Butte Ranch (BBR) in 1973 when Dick Howells came to the ranch as general manager. That was the beginning of a long and deep friendship.

"He was working at the front desk and had just graduated from the University of Missouri. He came out west because his brother was a lawyer in Portland and his sisters were in the West," Howells said.

Howells and Bailey worked together off and on in the real estate business after each left BBR.

"We have been best buddies; we played golf in Ireland and Scotland numerous times, made trips to Bandon on opening days for each of their courses," Howells said.

He noted that Tim was "commissioner" of a local group, "The Honourable Society of Sisters Golfers," that traveled to the finest courses in the world to play. He organized the games, kept track of the details. He is credited for observing on the course, "There is no such thing as a bad 'two.'"

"Tim was an intellect. He was a very bright guy. Whenever I had a question about real estate, whether he worked (with me) or across the street, I would ask Tim," Howells said. "He had a great sense of humor and dry wit."

In connection with his real estate work, Bailey became an expert on water rights and land use law. He served on the real estate board.

Bailey also worked at Brooks Resources in Bend and for an extended time at Ponderosa Properties in Sisters. Rad Dyer remembers that 35 years ago he and Tim would wait tables at night and sell real estate during the day at BBR. Each went on to work for a while at Brook Resources.

Dyer said that Tim "loved the area, loved the outdoors. He would whup me on the tennis courts and golf course, I would get even fishing or hunting…he was a good guy."

Another friend, Jeff Jones, remembered Tim as a person with "a big heart, one of those people everybody liked.

"He had a zest for life. It is unfortunate that it got cut off earlier than it should have," Jones said. "He had a dry, acerbic wit, and he loved to use it. He could nail you pretty good, but it was all in good fun. A lot of people are going to miss him a lot."

He was also an avid card player. It was said of Tim that "there was never a hand (of cards) that Tim did not like. He either won big or lost big."

Friend John Keenan said that Tim died "at home, with his family."

"Tim was the kind of guy that if anyone needed anything, if he could do it, he would do it," Keenan said.

When Tim needed to find a home for his dog, Bubba, he asked Keenan. It has been an adjustment.

"Every day I see Tim (in Bubba)," Keenan said.

Another friend noted that at the end, "he was ready. He did not want to be here any more."