50th Anniversary

Gene Bailey and Karen Jackson met the last weekend of October 1967 on a blind date set up by their roommates. They were engaged Aug. 2, 1968. Their engagement was long distance, because Karen took a job with Odessa College after receiving her Master’s degree. Gene was working for the Federal Aviation Administration based in Sulphur Springs and finishing his degree at East Texas State University in Commerce. The Baileys married Aug. 2, 1969 in the First Baptist Church of Mount Pleasant.

Karen taught English at Sulphur Springs High School for 30 years, and Gene worked with the FAA for over 40 years. He loves working as a dishwasher for Wednesday night fellowship meals. Karen sang in the Adult Choir, worked in VBS and facilitated the Dianna Randolph WOM group.

The couple have three sons who have families: Nathan and Suzanne Bailey and Kadyn; Eric and Ronda Bailey and Johnny, David and Grace; and Joel and Mylissa Bailey and Connor, Maddie and Lucy.

Karen is the fourth generation of her family to be married 50 years.