Joseph T. “Joe” Bailey passed away on September 15, 2025, following a brief illness. He was surrounded by family and is survived by his wife of 63 years, Cora Faye Bailey, their children, Anne (Aline Lindbeck) and Michael (Caroline), grandchildren Samuel and Elizabeth, and brother Carl C. Bailey Jr. He was preceded in death by his parents, Gertrude and Carl C. Bailey Sr., and his infant son, Christopher.
Born on October 16, 1937, in Clemson, South Carolina, Joe Bailey pursued a career in engineering after earning a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in ceramic engineering from Clemson University in 1959 and 1960, respectively. While in college, he served in the Army ROTC and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the US Army Ordnance Corps in 1960. Joe was stationed at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama, where he met his future wife, Faye. They married in 1962.
Shortly after their wedding, Joe began a long and successful career at the American Lava Corporation, a subsidiary of 3M, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He took a brief hiatus to obtain his Ph.D. in ceramic engineering from Ohio State University in 1966. Following his studies, Joe and Faye returned to Chattanooga, where they raised their family.
In 1974, Joe was transferred to 3M headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota. There, the couple adapted to the colder climate by embracing outdoor activities, including purchasing a snowmobile for winter and a speedboat for summer. Joe’s dedication to his work at 3M culminated in his promotion to Vice President of Research and Development for the Industrial and Consumer Sector. His career took him around the world, where he often remarked that he could order a beer in at least five languages. Colleagues described him as someone who would “eat anything, anytime, anywhere.”
After retiring in 2000, Joe and Faye fulfilled a lifelong dream by moving to their home on Lake Keowee near Clemson. He enjoyed hosting boating cruises, towing his grandchildren around the lake, gardening, and attending family reunions and Clemson Tigers football games. Joe was also involved with several advisory boards at Clemson University and was a member of the Thomas Green Clemson Academy of Outstanding Engineers and Scientists.
In 2022, Joe and Faye returned to Minnesota to be closer to their daughter, Anne. Even in his later years, Joe remained active, enjoying dinners out, exercising at the gym, and caring for Faye as she entered memory care. He cherished reconnecting with old friends and forging new relationships.
A funeral service was held in South Carolina in October, with a memorial service planned in the Twin Cities for the spring of 2026. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to the Alzheimer’s Association in Joe’s memory.
