Kelly Bailey died attempting to save Keeley Bailey from drowning, Merryville, Louisiana, August 26, 2022. Around sunset, Bailey’s daughter, Keeley, 7, Bailey’s partner, and the partner’s 4-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter all were struggling in the strong current of the Sabine River just beyond a shallow point near a beach. Bailey’s partner, who called for help, could not touch the bottom as she tried to keep all three children above the surface. Along the shore, Bailey, 28, a motorhand, and his friend entered the deeper water and reached the quartet. While the partner held onto her daughter, Bailey grasped Keeley, his friend collected the boy, and the current carried all six downstream toward a 57-year-old man, who had been alerted by calls for help, along the beach. The partner briefly saw the man going to the aid of Bailey and Keeley before the man ultimately entered the water and submerged. While Keeley had grasped onto an exposed branch in the river, Bailey, as well as his friend and the boy, went underwater and did not resurface. A nearby camper swam out to the partner and her daughter and brought them back to the beach. Using a float, the camper then re-entered the river, reached Keeley, and towed her to the beach. Keeley, the partner and her daughter, and the camper were not injured. First-responders searched the scene into the darkness that night without finding any of the missing four. Search crews eventually found the 57-year-old man the next day, Bailey and the friend two days after, and the partner’s son three days after he submerged. All had drowned.
10468-Obituary
Kelly was born on January 24, 1994, in Livingston, Texas to his parents, Jerry Bailey Jr & Stacy Little. He passed away on Sunday, August 28, 2022, in Merryville, LA.
Kelly is preceded in death by his father: Jerry Bailey Jr and stepson: Bently Fountain.
Left to cherish his memory is Fiancee’: Aria Briggs of Hornbeck, LA; Daughter: Keeley Bailey of Hornbeck, LA; Step-daughter: Evangeline Fountain of Hornbeck, LA; Mother & Step-father: Stacy and John Little of Leesville, LA; Two Brothers: Cody Bailey of Pickering, LA and Alex Little of Leesville, LA; Two Sisters Christine Bridges and husband Bodie of Leesville, LA and Janise Little of Ft. Smith, AR; Grandparents: Jerry and Leila Bailey of Onalaska, TX, Judy and Steve Eaves of Merryville, LA, & John and Shannon Little of Leesville, LA; Nephews: Denver Bridges and Dallas Bailey.