Donna Lee Bailey (Melanson)

Princeton – Donna Lee Bailey, 56, passed away unexpectedly in Portland on September 26, 2016. Donna was born on June 2, 1960 in Nova Scotia, daughter of Dennis and Lucy (Amero) Melanson. She was the loving wife of Bill Bailey for over forty years whom she married on June 12, 1976 in Princeton at his parents’ home. Together they raised their daughter, Billie Jo, in Princeton where they made their home together.
Donna was a talented cook and loved sharing meals and baking for family, whether it be at her home or sending homemade peanut butter balls and fudge to family around the world. She was known for making treats to donate to events within the community. Donna kept a special family tradition alive with her family’s Rappie Pie recipe passed down to her by her grandmother. She also spent so much of her time gardening and loved shopping, attending craft fairs and making crafts to give away. Donna put thought and time into every gift given to her friends and family, one of her specialties was her pine cone Christmas trees that she would create out of pine cones she collected.
She worked for many years as a stitcher at Ware Knitters and because of her great work ethic and dedication to her job, she was chosen by Creative Apparel to train as one of their top stitchers. While at Creative Apparel, she made clothes for the military and starter jackets for MLB teams. Although she was dedicated to her job, family was the true love of her life.
In addition to her father Donna was predeceased by a special nephew, Ray Matthew Sockabasin; an aunt, Leah Durfy; two uncles, David Arnold and Albert Melanson; brother-in-law, Paul V. Cox and her paternal grandparents.
She is survived by her husband, Bill Bailey; daughter, Billie Jo Bailey and her fiancé Julian Little of Sanford; mother, Lucy Melanson of Nova Scotia; three sisters, Sandy Melanson and her husband Ray Sockabasin of Indian Township, Dena Gatcomb of Milbridge and Annette Durfy of FL; two brothers, Alan Melanson and his wife Donna and Chris Thornton and his wife Laurie, and a special aunt Betty Monk, all of Princeton; her only grandson who was the light of her life, Julian Maurice Little; her mother and father-in-law, Don and Pat Bailey of Princeton; sisters and brothers-in-law James Bailey and his wife Sharon of OK, Richard Bailey and his companion Debra Huckaby of Baileyville, Christie Cox of VA, Robert Bailey and his wife Regina of FL and Jeanne Graceffa and her husband Bill of Grand Lake Stream and many special other aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and friends.
A funeral service will be held at Mays Funeral Home, 26 Church St., Calais at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, October 1st with Pastor Keith Moody officiating. Burial will follow at Princeton Cemetery. Donations in Donna’s memory may be made to Cobscook Community Learning Center, Community Year High School Program, 10 Commissary Point Rd., Trescott, ME 04652.