Friends remember North Texas firefighter, family killed in crash: ‘Deeply missed’
Cooper and Jennifer Bailey were fixtures in their North Texas community and were always looking for opportunities to serve others, according to friends and co-workers.
Wise County Emergency Services District 3 Fire Chief Jeremy Goodman said the Baileys were the kind of people who didn’t need to be in the limelight.
“They just helped out,” he said.
The couple and their 5-year-old son, Hudson, were killed in a car crash Saturday night in Cooke County near Gainesville when a Kia passed another vehicle in a no-passing zone and slammed head-on into the Bailey family’s SUV, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. The Kia’s driver also died in the accident, and the Baileys’ daughter, Lilah, was injured.
Cooper Bailey, 31, was a volunteer firefighter with the city of Paradise, and the family lived in the community.
“Firefighter Bailey was more than just a dedicated member of this department,” Wise County Emergency Services District 3 personnel said in a Facebook post. “He was a brother, a friend, and a pillar of our community. His commitment to service and his kind spirit will be deeply missed by all who had the honor of knowing him.”
According to Goodman, Cooper Bailey joined the department in 2022. He described Cooper as an “all-around good guy” who never met a stranger.
“It’s going to be next to impossible to replace Cooper, ... he was that good of a guy,” Goodman said.
The Baileys lived near the fire station, so Jennifer Bailey, 29, and the two children spent a lot of time there. Goodman told the Star-Telegram that sometimes the firefighters would get back from a call and find that Jennifer had prepared dinner for them.
“She just had a servant’s heart,” he said.
Those who knew the family took to social media to share their memories. One firefighter described Hudson’s smile and how much he enjoyed seeing the trucks at the station.
“His personality and playfulness will be dearly missed from now on when I run shifts,” the post reads.
“I’ve only known Cooper since late 2022, but man what an impact that kid made on me,” a woman said. “He was always telling me, ‘If you need any help just holler at me.’”
“Our Paradise community will be mourning this loss,” another person posted. “A well respected guy.”
According to Goodman, the thing that impressed him most about Cooper Bailey was that he was first and foremost a family man.
“Everything he did involved his family,” Goodman said.
Goodman said he’s staying in close contact with the Baileys’ family members, and the firefighters are doing everything they can to support Lilah Bailey’s recovery. Wise County Emergency Services District 3 has organized a fundraiser through Butterfly Bridge to provide for her medical needs and future expenses.
Lilah, a student at Decatur ISD’s STEM Academy at Enis Elementary, is hospitalized at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth. School staff are asking prayer for the second-grader and have set up an additional fundraiser in her honor.
“The same light her sweet mommy carried, the same love her family poured into her, is still shining so brightly in Lilah,” the school’s Facebook post reads. “In the middle of heartbreak, there is still hope. There is still strength. There is still a community that loves her deeply and will continue to lift her up every single day.”
A celebration of life service for Cooper, Jennifer and Hudson Bailey is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 28, at First Baptist Church Decatur.
