Thomas R. Bailey

ATHOL - Thomas R. Bailey, age 72, of Athol died Wednesday, February 4, 2015 at UMass Memorial Medical Center - University Campus of Worcester.   Tom was born April 22, 1942 in East Meadow, Long Island, NY the son of the late John J. and the late Mary (McDonough) Bailey.      The family moved to New Salem and then to Athol where Tom attended school, graduating from Athol High School in 1961.  He served four years in the United States Marine Corps before attending Mount Wachusett Community College and the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Tom was a teacher for 30 years, teaching science, social studies, and math at Athol Junior High school before moving on to the Wilmington, Mass school system. Tom was a 32nd degree Mason at the Franklin Lodge in Grafton where he was a very active and valued brother as well as being a Past Master. Tom was also an avid civil war re-enactor belonging to the 12th Georgia's and traveling throughout Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Connecticut to bring stories of people and events from the civil war period. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Lydia J. (Jackson) Bailey; one daughter, Janet Chiasson and her husband Paul of Athol;  a sister, Kathleen Miller and her husband Lawrence of Omaha, NE; several nieces, nephews and cousins.  Tom will be sadly missed by all his friends and family. The funeral will be held 10:30 am on Wednesday, February 11, 2015 at Fiske-Murphy & Mack Funeral Home, 110 New Athol Road, Orange, MA.  Burial will be in Silver Lake Cemetery, Athol. Calling hours will be Tuesday, February 10, 2015 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Fiske-Murphy & Mack Funeral Home, 110 New Athol Road, Orange, MA. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to American Cancer Society's, New England Division Office, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701. To send an online condolence please visit www.fiskemurphymack.com. Fiske-Murphy and Mack Funeral Home 110 New Athol Road, Orange is directing arrangements. $(document).ready(function(){ });