John Bennett Bailey
August 17, 1948 ~ January 29, 2018
Resided in:
Asheville, North Carolina
Surrounded by love and his devoted family, John Bennett Bailey MD, affectionately known as ‘Dr. Ben’, 69, of Asheville passed from this life at his home on Monday, January 29, 2018.
Dr. Bailey is survived by the love of his life, June Craft Bailey, and his children, Elizabeth Claire Bailey, Andrew Bennett Bailey, and John Bennett Bailey Jr. (Jen), and a sister, Patricia Lynn Bailey. A native of Nacogdoches, TX, Dr. Bailey was the son of the late John Lynn and Patsy Nance Bailey.
He was a leader in the medical community, practicing for nearly 30 years. He founded Mountain Area Pediatric Associates and mentored decades of Family Practice Residents and young Pediatricians. Dr. Bailey served on the board of the hospital, as well as numerous hospital and community committees.
Dr. Bailey was a cherished and beloved pediatrician, giving selflessly of his time and talents to care for thousands of children in WNC. He was an astute clinician, but he will be remembered most for the time and care that gave to each of his patients. As a husband, father, friend, and doctor, he exemplified unconditional love, kindness, compassion, and grace of the human spirit. His legacy is enormous in both the public sphere that he occupied as the consummate pediatrician, but also as a man who built incredibly strong bonds of love in his family.
A Celebration of Dr. Bailey’s Life will be held on Sunday, April 22, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Engaged Asheville, 41 North Merrimon Ave Suite 107, Asheville NC 28804 (across from the Woodfin YMCA).
In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the Dr. Ben Bailey Fund to Feed Hungry Children via the Community Foundation of WNC (CFWNC). A check may be made out to CFWNC with ‘Dr. Ben Bailey Fund’ noted in the memo line and mailed to CFWNC, 4 Vanderbilt Park Dr. Suite 300, Asheville NC 28803. A gift may be made online at: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/1443146 or by following the link below listed under "Charities."
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I don’t know where to begin except to say Dr Ben Bailey exemplified everything about honor and kindness and empathy and brilliance that one could ever want to have as a friend in this life and as a doctor .. It is with a heavy heart that I hear this news and I send my love and condolences to his wonderful family.
Many thoughts and prayers for the family and friends of Dr. Bailey. He literally saved my son’s life and was my daughter’s doctor also. He was such a truly kind and caring spirit. I know he will be greatly missed.
My prayers are with the family. Dr.Ben was the best doctor and friend always spent the time to talk with you and you children. Such a sweet soul . RIP Dr. Ben. We will miss you.
Dr. Ben was such a comfort to my husband and I when we were new parents to both of our baby girls. We loved him so much. He will be greatly missed. Our prayers are with him family.
Ben and June bought my house when they moved to Asheville. A kind and gentle human. My condolences to the family for the loss of their cherished husband, father and brother.
It breaks my heart that such a special soul has left this world all too soon. This man touched my life in a way that has been long lasting and lives on through raising my own children. Not only did he and June create a beautiful family, one of whom I had the pleasure of going to school with, but he took care of myself and my three siblings. House calls happened often, and he would come in and treat our entire family with his sweet smile. Dr. Ben embodied kindness, intelligence, and passion. Dr. Ben, you and your sweet family are in our hearts today and always as they embark on the journey of life with you on the other side. Love you Baileys!!
My family met Dr Ben when he first came to Asheville my daughter Amanda was one of his first patients he was the doctor for all four of my children and my grandchildren I remember taking my grandson Connor in not long before he quit practicing and he said to the baby I love you I don’t remember your name but I know I love you and I know he did he was a great man we all loved him and we will all miss him
Having worked in Mission Picu for 13 yrs., Dr. Bailey was loved by all the nurses and parents. He was so kind to the the children and parents. May God place his loving arms around you all and give you peace.
Mary Roberts Bradey
My thoughts and prayers are with you all Dr. Bailey was awesome with my children I moved with him from Asheville Peds when he started Mt. Area Peds. I stayed until both my children were 18 years old. I only wish my grandchildren could have had him as their pediatrician. He did what he truly loved and there were times I waited 2 hours to see Dr. Bailey but when it came my turn he was never in a rush he always took his time and made you feel like you were the most important person he had seen that day..Thank you family for sharing such a huge part of him for me and my Family.
A patient for many years, I send my prayers. What a beautiful testament to someone’s life.
This Bailey Family loved him!! We started with him when our daughters were two and five. My husband asked him during our consultation if he would take on our girls as new patients. We both can tell you that we are grateful for the care he gave our children until they became college age. He was the BEST!!
May God Bless his family always!
A true leader in compsssionate care for children, Dr. Ben served as an example and mentor to more than one generation of physicians and his colleague physicians. I am fortunate to have been able to start my career with Dr. Ben as a role model of how children and their families should be treated, not just medically, but with empathy for their individual circumstances. He was a leader for us in his private practice and through his work at our community hospital over so many years. Thanx again Ben! May your family find peace in the lifetime of joy you brought those around you.
Dr Bailey was such a.kind and loving man and was the best doctor ever. Words can not describe what a wonderful person he was.My condolences go out to his family .We will always love and.remember Dr.Bailey.
What a blessing Dr. Bailey was to our sons and to so many other families in the Asheville area. You will be sorely missed! Our sincere thanks to the entire family for the sacrifices you made so that he could serve our community. Loving thoughts and prayers with you.
We were blessed to have Dr. Bailey as our boys pediatrician. A pediatrician was truly his calling in life. Our boys were unfortunately in his office quite often when they were small and he always made the visit not so bad even when they felt their worse, he was always so kind and showed true caring. They all knew he really cared, so much so that our oldest son, Jonathan, still wanted to be his patient when he no longer needed a pediatrician. He always took all the time in the world with each one as if you were the only one he was seeing. He had a bulletin board with pictures of the children and he always mentioned a picture of our twins in cowboy hats at each visit. He was the Best! Praying for his family!
I am one of what must be hundreds of adults in their 20s and 30s who owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. Bailey. He was a kind, caring and patient man; the exact qualities you would want in a pediatrician. He always took time and remembered things about you even though he must have seen dozens of children each week. I never will forget him ‘seeing’ Bert and Ernie in my ears when he checked them and his self depreciating humor when he commented on how much taller I had gotten than him by about age 13. I can honestly say going to the doctor as a kid was a pleasant experience that I never dreaded. That really is a compliment for a pediatrician. When they show examples of what a pediatrician should be and what qualities they should exhibit to students in medical school, I hope Dr. Bailey’s career is used as example number one. I hope the family finds some solace in this difficult time by all the positive memories from all the lives he touched!
Dr. Ben was a wonderful Dr. he always knew just what to say to the kids and the parents. He will greatly missed by all
When I found out I was having a baby, I began researching pediatricians. Dr. Bailey was recommended by so many! He became my son’s doctor who is now 16. He was always so kind and a gentle soul. Condolences to his family but know that Dr. Bailey was truly loved by the community and I will be praying for comfort for you all.
We trusted Dr. Bailey with the lives of our children from birth on (now 33, 31 and 27), and we have missed his reassurances and loving, patient care since the day he retired. He was our friend as well as our doctor. We are so very sorry to hear this news. The first time I met him (in Memorial Mission Hospital after the birth of our first child), I spilled my entire lunch tray on the floor and this sweet man did not miss a beat. We five Stewarts have truly loved and appreciated him for many, many years. Please know that each of you in his family will be in our thoughts and prayers. Thank you from our hearts for sharing this good man with us.
My prayers are with the family during this difficult time. I first met Dr. Bailey when my son was born 35 years ago. He was my son and daughter’s pediatrician since their birth. He was such a wonderful doctor. He was so patient and caring. My children actually loved going to the doctor.
My condolences and prayers to Dr. Bailey’s family. He was such a kind and caring person.
We certainly loved Dr. Bailey, from all the ‘quack-quacks’ in the ears and the reflex kicks he took… We are certainly sad to say so-long to him. Your family will be in our prayers. May the Lord bless you.
Our deepest condolences to your family and friends. Dr. Bailey was one of the first doctors to care for my daughter. Though she wasn’t his regular patient, he saw her on emergency basis occasionally. I always loved his gentle, compassionate nature. He will certainly be missed throughout the community.
My thoughts and prayers to the family , Dr Baliey cared for my sons and was the greatest Dr ever! RIP
So sorry to hear of Dr. Baileys passing. Our son is 45 now. Don’t know what we would
have done with out him. Praying for all the family.
Dr. Bailey will be sorely missed. He took care of my son until he retired and now Jay is 30 and is an Electrical Engineer for Eaton International. I thank him from the bottom of my heart for the care he gave us.
Thoughts and prayers for Dr Bailey’s family. He was the best pediatrician I could have had for both my children. He was such a blessing to us for over 20 years. His love of children was an inspiration to so many.
To the Bailey family, I’m so sorry for your loss. I only met this remarkable man once at the wedding of my niece Jennifer who married Bennett. He certainly made a huge positive impact on everyone he knew. He will never be forgotten…this I’m sure of. Sending big hugs from Canada ❤️
To Dr. Ben’s family,
Thank you for being there for Dr. Ben while he started a practice in Asheville, NC. If he didn’t start Mountain Area Pediatrics, I don’t know where I would go to when I was sick or going for a check-up. Thank You again from the bottom of my heart.
Ben was always a kind, steady and wise mentor to countless MAHEC family medicine residents during their pediatric rotations. I’m grateful to have been one of them. He was a mentor and role model for us all. His legacy will quietly live on in the care thousands of children and their families will receive over the lifetimes of those who’ve trained under him. We should remember Ben as one of the unassuming and unsung heroes of our community. My world has been the richer for it.
I remember rounding with him on the Pediatric ward and the way his young patients would brighten when he came to their bedsides, always with soft, kind words of encouragement. Ben was an excellent clinician with deep caring and empathy for children and especially those whom he saw as patients. He was an inspiration for a generation of doctors in training in Asheville. It was a privilege to have him as a teacher.
So sorry ! He definitely was the best peds Dr ever. He cared for both of my children who are grown now & they loved Dr Been& so did I.
Dr. Bailey was the best. He took care of my daughter. He always listened and said mothers know when something is wrong. I consider him the best doctor I have ever known and the best person.
You have all been in our thoughts and minds since hearing of Ben’s passing. He was a giant of a man and pediatrician even though his stature was small. We are so thankful for the wonderful care he gave all our children and for the friendship.
Dr. Bailey,
You was a great Doctor and worked with children exceptionally well. My brother Cody & Myself remember the days we had to come an see you and you made a very scary atmosphere, fun and exciting. I know as a child under your practise that there isn’t hardly any Doctors like you anymore. I feel honoured to have been a patient of yours. Now may you rest easy in heaven caused you belong among the Angels..
I was a patient of MAPA when I was little and I had the privilege of seeing Dr.Ben numerous times over the years. He was the sweetest person, and I do remember him seeing ‘burt & ernie’ in my ears.
I thoroughly enjoyed working with Dr. Bailey during his time at Mission! He was always so upbeat, happy, and asked about all of our families. Sending prayers for your family during this difficult time.
Dr.Bailey was the best paediatric doctor in Asheville. Both of my kids adored him. Rest easy Dr. Bailey you will definitely be missed. Tommy Nesbitt and Debbie and Aleaha West
We feel that everything said in the beautiful obituary is just perfect and complete. What a dear man who kept to the road of goodness always. Our son, John Michael Justice, only changed to our internist after Dr. Ben gave him his college physical. When we got in to see him, we always knew everything would be OK. And, of course, The Ben Bailey Fund is the very thing to honor him, which we will. We will be out of town for this special celebration but can only imagine all the children, now grown, and grateful parents who will be celebrating with his special family. I’m afraid you had to give up a lot of time to us, June!
Knowing all the happy, lovely memories will be right there with you forever.
Our love,
Michael, Cynthia, John Michael Justice
Dr. Bailey was a wonderful doctor and an in all respects.He was always so giving of his time to his patients and their families.What a great role model for everyone.
Dr. Bailey was a wonderful doctor in all respects.He was always so giving of his time to his patients and their families.What a great role model for everyone.
Dr. Bailey was truly an angel, sent to love and guide our children and the doctors at MAPA. He always told my children that he loved them. He would enter the room saying, ‘I love you’ and exit the room saying, ‘I love you’. He was never too busy to really listen to my concerns about my children or my concerns about how I was doing as a parent. I will always love him for that. My daughter, when she was little, called him ‘Dr. Baby’, because she couldn’t say Bailey correctly. ‘Dr. Baby’ was the greatest person I’ve known. I thank God that Dr. Bailey was put into our lives. We were greatly blessed by knowing him. Thank you for sharing your husband and father with us. He will live in my heart forever.