James Clayton Bailey saved Rocky A. Jobe from exposure, Calvert City, Kentucky, January 23, 1988. Jobe, 20, was stranded in the frigid water of the Tennessee River after falling from a barge on which he was working. Unable to swim in his water- logged heavy clothing, he was carried by the current toward midstream. Bailey, 41, business manager, was attracted from his office nearby. He immediately stripped to his underwear, jumped into the river, and swam about 110 feet to Jobe, taking with him a small piece of plastic. After pushing the plastic under Jobe, Bailey swam toward the bank, en route grasping a chain that had been lowered to the water from a crane. As they were being towed in by the crane, its boom struck a utility pole, and Bailey, fearing electrocution, released his grip of the chain. He swam the remaining distance to the bank, towing Jobe. Both men were exhausted and badly chilled, and they recovered.
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Obituary
“Sonny” James Clayton Bailey, beloved community figure and devoted outdoorsman, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, in Calvert City, Kentucky, having been born in Paducah, Kentucky, on October 3, 1946. Sonny, as he was fondly known, led a life marked by dedication and service as the owner and operator of Bailey Port Inc. He was a hero, and recognized with the prestigious and rare Carnegie Medal of Honor.
Sonny was a man of many interests; he had a unique and bold personality that was larger than life. His confidence, imagination, and free spirit lit up every room he walked into. He had a great love for horses, reading, hunting, and camping in the mountains. His many extraordinary travels and brave adventures held a special place in his heart, allowing him to explore untold horizons and create lasting memories.
His unstoppable spirit, generous heart, and captivating stories will be profoundly missed by those who were fortunate enough to know him. To know him was to love him. He had a contagious smile and bright blue eyes. Sonny’s legacy is a tapestry of the adventures he embraced and the lives he touched.
Mr. Bailey is survived by his daughters, Natalie Beyer and Ella Bailey, both of Paducah; his sons, James C. “Clay” Bailey (Chrystal) and Jacob Lance Bailey, all of Calvert City; his sister, Teena Seaborn of Sharpe, Kentucky; his grandchildren, Clayton Bailey, Bailey Beyer and Lanie Beyer.
Mr. Bailey was preceded in death by his parents, Ewing Milton “E.M.” Bailey and Evelyn Ovesen Bailey; his sister, Karen Drew; his brother, Jackie Bailey, Jr.