Tarlton Hayes Bailey

Tarlton Hayes Bailey, better known to most as Bud, stepped into the presence of his Lord and Savior on Saturday September 19, 2026 at Integris Heart Hospital in Oklahoma City. He was 75 years, 8 months, and 19 days old.

Born on October 15, 1950 to Howard and Mary Lois Bailey in Kingfisher, OK, he grew up on the family farm in Dover, graduating from Dover Public Schools in 1968 as Valedictorian. While in high school he served as a class officer and in FFA earning the distinctive honor of State Farmer. He truly loved playing basketball and was known for his outstanding free throw percentage. Bud continued his education at Oklahoma State University where he proudly joined FarmHouse Fraternity.

With the ongoing war, Bud joined the United States Army in 1970 serving as a Vietnamese translator and trained interrogator with Army Intelligence deploying to Saigon. Upon his return from deployment, he met his future wife, Jean Ann Spitzer, while attending the Dover Baptist Church. Bud and Jean Ann were married in 1974 and added to their family in 1976 when daughter Tara Beth was born and again in 1981 with daughter Erin Elaine.

He continued his education at OSU OKC where he obtained his RN, working and eventually retiring from the OKC VA Medical Center with over 30 years of committed service to his fellow veterans.

Bud loved history and studying the Bible - owning nearly every translation available. He cherished sharing that knowledge with the various Sunday School Classes he taught over the years initially at Yukon First Baptist Church then as a member of Chisholm Heights Baptist Church of Mustang for over 20 years.

Bud ls survived by his wife of 52 years, Jean Ann; daughters Tara Beth Moyes and husband Josh; Erin Elaine Ezzell and husband, Jon. He loved his three beautiful granddaughters Marin McCullough, Lela Moyes, and Bailey Ezzell. He is also survived by two loving sisters, Margaret Reina and husband Patrick, and Sybil Price.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Mary Lois Bailey and one sister, Marilyn Cooper, and one brother-in-law, Darrell Price.

His sense of humor, vast knowledge, detailed memories, and steadfast love will be missed by extended family and friends, especially his McDonalds coffee buddies at I40 and Mustang Rd. and his VA family breakfast friends’ fellowship.

In lieu of flower donations can be made to Hope Givers International in care of Chisholm Heights Baptist Church Mustang or any charity of your choice.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m, Tuesday, September 22, 202 at the funeral home. Celebration of life services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, September 23, at Chisholm Heights Baptist Church, Mustang, OK, with interment following at 2:00 p.m. at the Kingfisher Cemetery, Kingfisher, OK.