Paul James Bailey, 74 of Bismarck, passed away on Thursday, May 21, 2026.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 on Wednesday, 27th at Eastgate funeral service, 3117 E. Century Ave, Bismarck, ND.

Paul was born on October 30, 1951 in Minot North Dakota, the son of James and Elaine (Rostad) Bailey. He attended elementary school in Williston, graduated from Carpio High School and then went on to attend the North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton, where he earned an auto mechanics degree.

Throughout his professional career, he always worked in the automotive business, including at gas stations, Blessner’s, Weslie’s, Harmon Motors and more. He worked in Minot, Williston and Bismarck throughout the years. In the early 1990’s he moved to Bismarck where he worked for Inland Trucks and in 2015 retired from Weslie‘s Truck Parts in Dickinson.

Paul enjoyed fishing whether it was in the winter or summer, hunting and his most recent activity he enjoyed was golfing at Tom O’Leary.

Paul loved to make people laugh. He was a complicated man. He loved his immediate family and he loved his family of friends. He was "uncle" to many young children during his life.

He survived by his siblings, Debbie (Michael) Short, Bert (Mary) Bailey and Nancy Bailey Williams; nephew, Justin (Mandy) Bailey and their children, Jack and Maggie Clark; nephew, Patrick (Brandi) Bailey and their son, Kieran; nephew, Joshua (Mandy) Williams and Joshua’s daughter, Bailey; nephew, Kenney Williams along with many cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

In lieu of flowers, Family asks that donations be made to Saint Jude’s Hospital or to the donor‘s choice in memory of Paul.