A Guelph man who was killed while crossing the street Tuesday evening is being remembered by his brother as a happy and grateful man who overcame many challenges in his life.
Ray Bailey, 69, was a lifelong Guelphite and known as a friendly face around town, says his younger brother Ron.
“He had his challenges throughout life, but he never complained and he loved people,” said Ron by phone from his home in Stratford. “He was generally pretty happy and he was always grateful for everything you did for him.”
For years, Ray delivered newspapers in Guelph, especially along Speedvale Avenue.
“He liked doing it because it got him out of the house and he got to meet a lot of people,” said Ron.
Ray was a fixture at many of the Tim Hortons around town. Ron’s wife Beth recalled a story from years ago about a time when employees of the Speedvale Avenue location of the coffee shop banded together to help him.
“One day somebody stole his cart that he delivered papers with and the employees of the coffee shop actually purchased another cart for him. That shows how much people thought of him,” she said.
“We were blown away by that,” said Ron.
Ray also volunteered in the cafeteria at the Evergreen Seniors Community Centre and could often be seen on the lanes at Woodlawn Bowl.
“He actually was a pretty good bowler and he developed close friendships with his fellow bowlers,” said Ron.
Ron and Beth are thankful for the seven weeks they had with Ray when he came to live with them after an outbreak occurred at Norfolk Manor, where he had been living.
“I hadn’t lived with him since I was a teenager, but since he was living in Norfolk Manor and they had so many COVID cases we took him out around the first of April and he came to live with us in Stratford,” said Ron. “We felt like we got to know him again.”
Beth agreed.
‘We got to know him again on a whole different level. It was a good experience having him in our home and to have that time with him,” said Beth.
Ray recently returned to Norfolk Manor.
“He liked Norfolk better and loved the staff. It was the best time of his life, I think, when he was there,” said Ron.
“He loved sitting out front of Norfolk Manor in that patio area and just watching people go by and having a coffee,” said Beth. “A lot of people would have known Ray by his looks only, and might not be familiar with his name.”
Ray loved to watch sports and had been learning to play coronet in the New Horizons Band Guelph, which provides a place for adults to make music.
Band leader Brent Rowan remembers Ray as someone always practicing to get better.
“Ray’s enthusiasm for making music was unparalleled. He was always in a good mood, always positive, always just happy to be in the company of others making music,” said Rowan. “I think for him it was most important to be in the presence of others and enjoying peoples’ company and making music together.”
Ron said the Alcoholics Anonymous program was pivotal in Ray’s life and he was attending meetings virtually through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“AA turned his life around. It was wonderful and a great community for him,” said Ron.
On Thursday Guelph Police spokesperson Const. Brian Murphy said the the preliminary investigation has shown speed was not a factor, but the overall incident is still under investigation.
It came as a shock for Ron and Beth to hear about Ray’s sudden death on Tuesday.
On Thursday they attended Norfolk Manor to begin dealing with Ray’s belongings. While there, the couple were told that a neighbour heard the commotion from the collision and held Ray’s hand while waiting for paramedics to arrive.
“That really touched us,” said Ron.
