Gene Bailey

Gene Bailey

Pioneer Alaskan trucker Gene Bailey, 92, passed away February 17, 2019 in Shelton, Washington, where he lived since 1994.

In 1939, Gene came to Alaska with his parents as a Matanuska Valley colonist. A

s a boy he worked with his father and learned to use all sorts of equipment. He later remembered dozing one the first trails from Wasilla to Big Lake.

Before and after World War II, he hauled logs from the upper Knik River valley. During the war years, he was stationed with the Army in the Aleutian Islands, and later became a member of the 10th Air Rescue Squadron.

In the 1950s, Gene drove heavy diesels north and remembered pushing through snow that reached halfway up the radiator of his Diamond-T going through Paxton Canyon and Black Rapids, enoute to Fairbanks. He drove for many years and said the feeling he got from the adventure of running a truck on Alaska’s long empty roads, “made you want to live forever.”

Gene married Claire M. Tingley on June 24, 1950, and over the years Gene and his family lived in Alaska, Federal Way, Washington and California.

Gene grew up amongst a rare blend of Alaska’s early miners, farmers, and characters now long forgotten. He enjoyed working to his last day, and his way was to try to help others however he could.

Gene is survived by his wife, Claire M. Bailey; daughters, Cheryl Stuberg (Roger), Candace Ray (Chris), and Cathy Paxton (Tim); seven grandchildren; one great grandchild; sister, Nona Cummings; and other extended family. He was predeceased by his parents; sisters, Janice Kvale and Ardith Whelan; and brother, David Bailey.

Services were held in Washington State earlier this month.