David Alan Bailey
October 25, 1946 ~ December 21, 2024
David Alan Bailey, 78, retired Paraprofessional in the Wichita Schools, died Saturday, December 21, 2024. David, or “Uncle Dave” as he was known (first by his nephews, then by the community at large) was a gifted photographer and visual artist; an accomplished singer, songwriter, and guitarist; a writer and voracious reader; and a prolific actor, director, and designer within the local theatrical scene.
Born in Wichita in 1946, he was the oldest of four brothers, all of whom were known for their artistic talent and rapier wit. He was an active member of the campus activist scene in Lawrence in the 1960s, and became something of a local legend there. He married the great love of his life, Hetty, in 1982. He worked for the Wichita Public Schools for over a decade, and became active in the theater in the early 2000s, where he became known first for his high-quality headshots, and then for his sensitive and heart-wrenching performances as “the Old Man” in Fool for Love, “Henry Drummond” in Inherit the Wind, and “Stage Manager” in Our Town, among many others.
Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, February 15, 2025, at Wichita Community Theater.
Preceded in death by his parents, Melvin Bailey and Clarice Fish; brothers, Robert and Brian Bailey. Survived by his wife, Hetty Bailey; daughter, Shannon Bailey-Clark Moore; granddaughter, Sofia Moore; grandson, Frazer (Ashley) Moore; great-granddaughter, Leona Moore; brother, James (Brenda Penney) Bailey; nephews, Ian Bailey, Jason (Rebekah Dryden) Bailey, Max Bailey; great-nieces, Lucille Bailey, Alice Bailey; sister-in-law, Pat Bailey.
In 2021, he wrote, “Years ago I read a fantasy novel in which everyone who died remained a part of the community as ghosts - but only as long as someone remembered them. I thought, 'Well, that's it, isn't it.' When I'm gone, that's the only way I'll be 'ghosting around' bothering people - as a memory, or suite of memories; someone in a gathering will make an innocent remark that is a perfect set-up for a naughty double-entendre and someone who knew me will hear my voice (in their imagination) blurting out the completely inappropriate and obvious comment. Perhaps, in my honor, they'll say it out loud...”
A memorial has been established with: Wichita Community Theater, 258 N. Fountain St., Wichita, KS 67208.
Services in care of Downing & Lahey East Mortuary.
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Dave was a year ahead of me at North & we both played in the orchestra. Outside of NHS, we crossed paths in Wichita’s beatnik coffeehouse scene – he & Susie sang at the BC sometimes. After decades in CA, I returned to Wichita & found him on Facebook. Dave was good enough to meet up with me (in a coffeehouse), even tho his health had declined by then. It was so fun to catch up with each other & share stories of old friends. He left the stage just as the Light was turning around. Now it’s up to us to carry it on!
Michele, Carly and I are heartbroken. A part of each of our hearts have gone with David. He is one of our lives’ richest blessings.
I was 15 years old in 1963 when I saw David and Susie Strauss Stewart playing at BC’s, a long gone but not forgotten (by we the still-living) coffeehouse at Hillside and Kellogg in Wichita when Kellogg was just another street. I was transfixed. I haven’t been the same since. David and I struck up a friendship that lasted our lifetimes and changed the course of our lives.
Without David, I would never have become a musician; and would have never met Phil Yearout (the better half of Yearout & Dunn); and never met the love of my life, Michele who came to hear us play; and we would never have married, or been blessed with our amazing daughter, Caroline (Carly); and David would not have become our adopted son and Carly’s brother (long story).
During all of this, David fell in love with Hetty, and in a rare display of rational thinking, married and spent the rest of his life with this remarkable woman. Michele and I stood with them as they recited their vows. The best decision he ever made in his life. And Hetty became a member of our family, too. Our damaged hearts are all with her now.
David was a true Renaissance man – bibliophile, artist, photographer, actor, singer-songwriter, of strong convictions (though never doing time for any of them), loyal, funny, kind, caring and loving. Our lives are diminished with his passing. But he yet lives on in each one of us.
And yes, Jason, further to David’s quote you shared in his obit, I fully expect to hear his voice in my ear blurting out at the most gloriously inappropriate times, the most gloriously inappropriate naughty double-entendre responses to innocent remarks. And I will share them with glee.
Peace, Peace, My Brother
I met Dave through Mike Dunn and was saddened to hear of his passing. I don’t play much anymore, but I still have one of Dave’s original songs on my list, and it’s as good a song as I’ve ever heard. He never could decide if the title was “A New Kind of Man” or “I Didn’t Mind Then” – I’ve always called it the latter. He was a talented fellow, in many ways. Rest in Peace my friend.