Carl Melvin Bailey

Carl Melvin Bailey, 90, of Benton, passed away October 19, 2026. He was born in Holdenville, Oklahoma, to Samuel Clifton Bailey and Lillie Belle Noblett Bailey.

Carl worked as a newspaper pressman for more than 55 years, beginning at the Sentinel-Record in 1954 and retiring from the Benton Courier in 2010. In his younger years, he raced motorcycles and cars throughout the south-central United States. He spent most of his adult life in Hot Springs and Benton, enjoyed bowling well into his 80s, and loved traveling to watch all kinds of car racing. He was a regular Saturday night attendee at I-30 Speedway.

Carl married Juan Marie (Jo) Shuffield in 1959, and they had two daughters, Karla Marie and Karen DeAnn. They later divorced, and Carl married Gayle Bostick in 1995. Carl and Gayle adopted their son, Freddy Poe.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Gayle, and sister Ermagene Sheets.

Carl is survived by his daughters, Karla and Richard Lott of Hot Springs and Karen and Mike Adams of Canton, Kansas; his son, Freddy and Taylor Poe of Benton; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and many extended family members and friends.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Genesis Cancer Institute at (501) 624-7700, 133 Harmony Park Circle, Hot Springs, AR 71913. The family extends special thanks to Carl’s doctors, nurses, and caregivers for their compassion and care.