James "Jim" Austin Bailey Sr.

James Austin Bailey Sr. was born July 3rd, 1941 in Paris, TX and was adopted shortly after by Lige and Ethel Bailey. Growing up, he called Beaumont, TX home alongside his parents and younger sister Sarah Dunham. He graduated from Beaumont’s French High School and it was there that he met his first wife Emma Jane Sheffield. Together they had three sons, James Bailey Jr., Curtis Bailey, and Douglas Bailey.

Throughout his life, he worked across many trades, but he began by following in his father’s footsteps and working as a maintainer operator for the Texas Highway Department. He left this position to instead pursue a career more closely aligned with his life-long passion for the outdoors and fishing. For over half a decade, he owned and operated a fiberglass business in Texas City specializing in boat repairs. In the decade following that, he moved back closer to home to Zavalla where he owned Rayburn Lodge on Lake Sam Rayburn and was a guide for visiting and local fishermen. In his last decade prior to retirement, he worked at Louisiana-Pacific at their Silsbee OSB Mill as a production supervisor and was later involved in constructing the Jasper site.

Retirement offered a change in pace, but was still full of excitement as he had more time for his hobbies of hunting, fishing, and riding motorcycles cross-country. He returned to the slower-pace life of Zavalla, enjoying his early morning coffees at Carlene’s Cafe and his Sunday services at the Zavalla Church of Christ. This time in his life also allowed for more four-legged companions including his dog, Buddy, and cat, Tiger.

He passed on September 19th, 2026 in Huntington, TX. at 85 years of age. He is reunited in death with his parents Lige and Ethel, and sons Douglas and James. His legacy lives on through his sister Sarah and husband Mike, son Curtis and wife Pam, daughter-in-law Debora, daughter-in-law Julie, nine grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren, and countless others.

A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, October 10th at the Schultz Funeral Home in Jasper with visitation starting at 11:00AM, service at 12:00PM, and a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity in his name.