Bobby Hailey

Robert Lee Hailey, 86, longtime resident of Fulton, KY died on April 1, 2026, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Union City, TN. Bobby was born September 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, DC 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, KY 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, TN, Mary Lee Grossner of Martin, TN, and Rebecca Morris of South Fulton, TN; grandchildren Meagan Coffman of Manchester, NH, Sarah Adair (Trey) of Nashville, TN, Tyler Morris (Samantha) and Hannah Nolan (Tyler) of South Fulton, TN; and three great-grandchildren Rylee & Sawyer Morris and Gemma Nolan.

Bobby was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Marjorie Collins, four brothers, Ed, Charles, Bruce, & Danny Hailey, and his in-laws, Ruth and Milton Calliham.

A Celebration of Life for Mr. Bobby Hailey will be held at 1PM Saturday, April 4, 2026, at the Fulton First United Methodist Church with burial to follow in the Obion County Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held at the Fulton First United Methodist Church from 11AM Saturday until the hour of service.

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.