Obit: James M. Baley Sr., of Marshall, father of U.S. District Attorney J.M. Baley Jr., and for years a Madison County civic and political leader, died at an Asheville Hospital yesterday after a brief illness. He was 87. A life-long Republican, Baley before retiring in 1934 had served one term as Madison County Sheriff, 16 years as chief deputy U.S. Marshal at Greensboro and 11 years in the same position in Asheville. He had been a member of the State Republican Executive Committee and chairman of the Madison County Republican Party Executive Committee. He also had been a Madison County deputy sheriff and tax collector. Before his retirement, he had been a hardware merchant.
A Master Mason for the past 60 years, Baley had been instrumental in building the Masonic Temple at Marshall. He served as chairman of the building committee. Baley also was a past master of Greensboro Masonic Lodge No. 76 and the French Broad Lodge No. 292. He also was a former member and past patron of Marshall Eastern Star and was chairman of the board of custodians of Pritchard Cemetery. Active in church affairs, he had been chairman of the board of deacons of the Marshall Baptist Church and was a trustee of the church, and president of the Adult Men’s Class of the church at the time of his death.
A native of Erwin, Tenn., he was a son of Lewis B. Baley and Sarah Erwin Baley. Surviving in addition to J.M. Baley Jr. of Marshall, are a daughter, Mrs. Evelyn Starnes of Asheville; another son, William J. Baley of Asheville; and two grandchildren, James M. Baley III and Deane Baley of Marshall.
Funeral services will be held in Marshall Baptist Church Friday at 2:20 p.m. The Rev. D.D. Gross, the pastor, will officiate, assisted by Dr. Hoyt Blackwell, president of Mars Hill College. His body will remain at the home of J.M. Baley Jr. until time to be taken to the church to lie in state 30 minutes prior to the service. Bowan-Rector Funeral Home of Marshall is in charge of the arrangements.
Contributor: Mike Gahagan (48045332)