Bert Wayne Bailey

He was the first of four children, with a brother and two sisters, and graduated from Odessa High School in 1957, then attended college at North Texas State University in Denton. He joined the U.S. Army in 1962 and spent two years in Germany, before returning to NTSU and earning a Bachelor of Music degree in 1967 and a Master’s in Music in 1970. He married fellow music graduate, Martha Lou Coates, in 1966.

As a public-school music teacher, Wayne started the strings program in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch district, where he taught from 1964 to 1966. He subsequently taught orchestra in Amarillo, Garland, and, after moving to Richardson in 1971, at Berkner High School from 1971 to 1979. His last job was driving a school bus for the Plano school district, which he greatly enjoyed.

Wayne was also a violinist and a talented visual artist. He was concertmaster of the Richardson Symphony during the 1965-66 season and also played in the Amarillo Symphony and, while teaching at Amarillo Junior College, in faculty chamber music concerts. He was a member of the Richardson Art Society and entered his artworks in shows, winning several awards. He loved family reunions, classical music, painting, composing, reading history, and spending time with his dogs and cats.

Wayne was predeceased by his brother Jerry. He is survived by his wife, Martha; son Nathan and daughter-in-law Stephanie Yoo, daughter Emily Bailey Levin and son-in-law Allen Levin; granddaughter Maya Bailey; sisters Sandra Corse and Susan Baer, and brother-in-law Don Baer; nieces Sharon King and Marilyn Bailey, nephew Theron Corse, and a great-niece and great-nephew.

He will be buried in the military cemetery in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Richardson Heights Recreation Center, 711 W. Arapaho Road Richardson Texas 75080, on October 12, 2024