Bobby Hailey
Robert Lee “Bobby” Hailey, 86, longtime resident of Fulton, died on April 1, 2026, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union City. Bobby was born Sept. 27, 1939, on the family farm in Obion County to the late Mary Adelle Hailey and E.C. Hailey.
He was raised and educated in South Fulton and graduated from South Fulton High School in 1957. Upon graduating, Bobby moved to Washington, D.C., to work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He returned to South Fulton in 1959 where he met his future wife, Sidney Calliham, of Fulton whom he married later that year. They were married for 66 years. Bobby began his career with Pure Milk Company (later Turner Dairy) where he rose to a management position. He served as a volunteer firefighter, a Fulton City Commissioner and a Kentucky Colonel. He was a member of Fulton First United Methodist Church for 66 years where he volunteered on various committees, was a member of the United Methodist Men and the Fellowship Sunday School class, and sang tenor in the choir.
Bobby loved to sing. As a child, his mother often accompanied him on piano, he later participated in the Lion’s Club performances, and he and his brother, Ed, performed as Bottleneck and Stopper. He was an avid golfer, and after he gave up the sport he continued to seek out opportunities to play putt-putt with his grandchildren. He also loved to drive whether he was in a truck or on his lawn mower. After his retirement, Bobby and Sidney traversed the East Coast from Maine to Florida and traveled as far west as the Rocky Mountains.
He is survived by his wife, Sidney Calliham Hailey; three daughters, Charlotte Patton (LinRico) of Union City, Mary Lee Grossner of Martin and Rebecca Morris of South Fulton; grandchildren, Meagan Coffman of Manchester, N.H., Sarah Adair (Trey) of Nashville and Tyler Morris (Samantha) and Hannah Nolan (Tyler) of South Fulton; and three great-grandchildren, Rylee and Sawyer Morris and Gemma Nolan.
Bobby was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Marjorie Collins; four brothers, Ed, Charles, Bruce and Danny Hailey; and his in-laws, Ruth and Milton Calliham.
A Celebration of Life for Mr. Bobby Hailey was held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 4, 2026, at Fulton First United Methodist Church with burial following in Obion County Memorial Gardens. Visitation was held at the church from 11 a.m. Saturday until the hour of service.
Hornbeak Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to the Annie Ruth Pirtle Childcare Center, P.O. Box 1386, Fulton, KY 42041 or to the charity of your choice.
The Messenger