Woody Alan Bailey, 80, passed away on May 2, 2025. He was a beloved son, father, pawpaw, brother, uncle, and friend. A lifetime resident of Sellersburg, Indiana, Woody was a proud United States Air Force veteran who served from 1967-1971. He was also a devoted member of Grace Community Church in Sellersburg.

Once dubbed "the coolest man alive" by a coworker, many may remember him burning up the basketball nets with his brother Reid for the Silver Creek Dragons in the early 1960s. He was fast and athletic, holding a spot on the top ten scoring list at Silver Creek for many years, even though he played before the 3-point shot was adopted. So extraordinary were the Bailey boys, a first year coach at West Point, Robert Montgomery Knight, paid a visit to the Bailey home in Sellersburg to recruit the brothers to play basketball for him. Woody eventually attended New Mexico Highlands University on scholarship until he joined the USAF.

Later in life, Woody preferred to burn rubber instead of nets in one of his trademark Mustangs bought from Jim O'Neal Ford. An impeccable dresser, one could not miss his left arm propped out his window with his sleeve rolled up and his gold watch on his wrist as he revved his engine and baited younger men with fast cars to race him through town or on the interstate. Those who were unable to resist often found themselves well outmatched and left behind. If they didn't? Well, we never heard about it, so it must have never happened. Aside from sports, cars, and clothes, Woody's greatest joy in life were his three sons with then wife, Janet: Tad, Paul, and Drew. He taught all three how to shoot a basketball, bait a hook, and drive a car. He also taught them the value of family, attending Sunday dinners prepared by his mother,  Mary each week and attended by most, if not all, of the Baileys. Drew and Paul spent many a happy weekend with him at the Greentree Mall playing on the turtles and throwing coins into the games at Aladdin's Castle. During this time, Tad was enlisted and serving in the United States Marine Corps - his service made Woody very proud. Some saw Woody as a ladies man. Deservedly so, as he was a handsome and charismatic man who rarely had a hair out of place. But there were no more important ladies in his life than his six, yes six, granddaughters. He loved spending time with them and watching them grow up and participate in one of their many extracurricular activities. He made all birthdays and holidays special. He also delighted in gathering them around and telling them tall tales about people he once knew in his life and the eccentricities they exhibited, in particular Fontaine DuBois and Skippy Valdez.

Woody's heart and personality were unmatched. He loved God, his country, and his family. It is impossible to truly capture all that he was in words alone. If you were lucky enough to call him family or friend, you probably have a story or two that make you smile, and in that, you will recognize his full and fortunate life.

Woody was preceded in death by his father, Elwood Bailey, and his son, Tad Bailey. Survivors include his mother, Mary Bailey; brother, Reid Bailey (Mary Lynne); sister, Marianne McIntyre (Dave); sons, Paul (Kara) and Drew (Katie); granddaughters Adrienne, Olivia, Piper, Harper, Brooklyn, Dakota; and multiple nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews. He is also survived by his significant other for the last 19 years, Karen Suzanne Akin.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 P.M. on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at the Garr Funeral Home (7806 Highway 311, Sellersburg, Indiana 47172) with interment to follow at Hickory Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 12:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. and on Thursday from 10:00 A.M. until the time of the service at the funeral home.