Philip Craig Bailey, 63, former resident of Kansas City, Missouri and Tulsa, Oklahoma, passed away unexpectedly at his home in Ajijic, Mexico, on January 18, 2018 from congestive heart failure.  A memorial service and interment were held there in his honor on January 25, 2018, with Pastor Ken Armstrong officiating. He was laid to rest in San Antonio Cemetery in San Antonio, Jalisco, Mexico.

Craig was born in Kansas City on October 30, 1954, to Robert L. and Joyce Bailey.  He graduated from Archbishop O'Hara High School in 1972, Missouri State University in 1977, and went on to earn his law degree from the University of Tulsa School of Law in 1980.  Following graduation from law school he worked as an oil and gas attorney in Houston, Texas, eventually returning to Tulsa where he worked at the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals for eighteen years.  In 2003 he returned to private practice at Young, Bowden & Bailey, then became associated with McKenna & Prescott in Tulsa before retiring in 2017.

As a teenager, Craig was an active member of Swope Park Baptist Church in Kansas City and took mission trips to foreign countries to assist the needs of local residents. The bonds he formed with those friends were life long.

One of Craig's passions was for animals of all variety, especially dogs.  Over the years he provided a loving home to Winston, Casey, Tess, Bo, Toby & Bella.  He served on the board of the Tulsa SPCA and was a founding member of the Tulsa Humane Society.

Craig was honored as one of the Outstanding Young Men in America, 1979 edition, while still in law school. He was an officer of the Sigma Tau Gamma social fraternity, a member of Delta Theta Phi law fraternity and the Oklahoma & American Bar associations and recently became a member of the Lake Chapala Society.

He is survived by his mother & stepfather Joyce & Larry Gault and his sister and brother in law Kim & Curtis Looney, all of Springfield Missouri; stepsisters Laura Welch, Robin Corderman, and Stacy Schneider, all of the North K.C. area; Uncle & Aunt Kenneth & Lana Miller of Lewisville, Texas, and his beloved beagle Bella.

He was preceded in death by his father Robert Bailey, his maternal grandmother Daisy McCartney and his paternal grandparents Charles & Gladys Bailey.

In September 2017, following several years of dreaming and planning, Craig sold everything he owned and moved to Lake Chapala, Mexico with Bella the Beagle.  There he found his paradise on earth living in a converted 16th century monastery in the village of Ajijic.  He quickly adapted to this new way of life and made many new friends who shared his passion for this small village.

Craig was captivated by the culture of life as the local residents celebrated their departed loved ones each year with lively festivities, respect and honor. In that same tradition, we plan to visit Craig's final resting place to honor his life each year on his birthday.

He will forever be remembered for his warm heart, infectious smile, quick wit, compassionate nature, creative and inquisitive mind, his way with words, both written and spoken, and his devotion to family and friends.  May his spirit live on, through all of us who loved him dearly.

Donations to The Dog Ranch through their website: http://www.lakesidespayandneutercenter.com

If a US tax receipt is necessary, donations can be made through Lake Chapala Charities www.lakechapalacharities.org with 100% of the proceeds going to the Dog Ranch.