James Keith Bailey

Jan 2, 1940 -

Feb 1, 2026

James K. Bailey passed away at his Anchorage, Alaska, home on Feb. 1, 2026, from pancreatic cancer.

He was born in Middleton, Ohio, to Melvin and Madge Bailey. Jim was raised in Arizona on a homestead with chickens, horses and dogs. He joined the U.S. Army serving from 1959-1961, stationed Ft Campbell Kentucky. When he got out of the Army, he bought a brand-new motorcycle, he taught himself to ride and drove from Kentucky to Arizona. He worked for Pied Piper Pest Control in Mesa, Ariz. In his spare time, he earned his pilot's license.

The call to Alaska was strong in him, so he converted a small school bus into a camper and drove up to Anchorage. He worked on the oil rigs for a while until they were moving the rig to Singapore. He met his future wife, Bonnie, in Anchorage in 1970, while snowmaching. They married in 1972. He filed for unemployment when the rig left, never dreaming he would find a job in pest control in Anchorage, but he did at Fort Richardson Army Base. During vacation time, he started guiding and he joined the Alaska National Guard as an Airborne Volunteer from 1973-1985. Then he was asked to manage Stephan Lake Lodge in the Talkeetna Mountains. He became a Master Guide, and he purchased that lodge from its European owners and owned it until 2012. He and Bonnie enjoyed running the lodge and meeting all the wonderful visitors to Alaska. Jim loved sharing his Alaska with them. He loved flying his Cessna 185 and riding his Harley.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Jack; and sister, Barbara.

A service will be held for Jim on April 10, 2026, at 3 p.m., at United Methodist Church of Chugiak, 16430 Old Glenn Highway in Chugiak, Alaska. The Reverend Jim Doepken will officiate. Any donations in Jim's name can be sent to the Alaska Airmen Scholarship Fund or Hospice of Anchorage.