Roll Call Tribute

Joseph Rutherford "Joe" Baily, III 

July 17, 1947 - December 9, 2025 

Joseph Rutherford Baily, III, 78, of Pensacola, FL passed away on December 9, 2025.

Joseph R. Baily, III was born in West Grove, PA, July 17, 1947, to Marie F. Baily and Joseph R. Baily, Jr. He was raised in Oxford, PA, and was the eldest of the 12 Baily grandchildren. He graduated from Oxford High in 1965. Out of high school, Joe enlisted in the US Air Force where he served honorably for four years. After leaving the service, Joe enrolled at Texas A&M University and graduated (with honors) with a bachelor’s degree in Geology in 1973. He then pursued a master’s degree in Geology/Geotechnical Engineering at the University of Michigan and graduated in 1975. While attending Michigan, he met the love of his life and wife of 50 years, Linda Brown Baily. After graduation, he and Linda moved to Houston, TX where he started his career as a Geotechnical Engineer and they started a family. In 1984, the family relocated to Pensacola, FL, where he and Linda raised their two children (Kirk & Lisa Baily). In 1985, Joe started Baily Engineering & Testing, Inc., which he successfully ran for 35 years.

Joe loved living by the water and sailing his catamaran. He was an amazing father who made time for his family and routinely volunteered to coach his children in one of his favorite sports, soccer. Even when he wasn’t coaching, he never missed a game. In addition to his love of soccer, Joe was an avid college football fan and fervently supported both the Michigan and the Texas A&M programs. He was excited to see Michigan win the National Championship in 2023 and Texas A&M make the college football playoffs this year. Joe enjoyed panning for gold, hunting for gems and minerals, and maintained an extensive collection of each. Joe also loved quizzing his family by asking them to identify different minerals (which it turns out were not always granite).

Joe is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Rutherford Baily, Jr. (1966) and Marie F. Baily Coulter (2016).

He is survived by his wife, Linda Brown Baily; his son, Kirk Baily; (grandchildren, Miles & Owen Baily); and his daughter; Lisa Baily Calligan (husband Cameron Calligan); (grandchildren, Gray & Jake Calligan).

The family will be holding a private memorial.