Allen M. Bailis

Allen M. Bailis, 86, of Northeast Philadelphia, devoted husband, father, grandfather, loyal friend, and feeder of stray cats and birds, died on March 21 at Holy Redeemer Hospital after a brief illness.  

Allen, known to old friends as “Dusty,” was the eldest of three children of Fannie and Samuel Bailis. He grew up in a close-knit neighborhood in Overbrook, where he graduated from Overbrook High School.

He studied business administration at Temple University and worked most of his life at the family scrap metal business, R & S Bailis, in Southwest Philadelphia. After the family business was sold, he joined the neighboring business that bought it, Larry & Dick’s Auto Parts. He later worked for  Pep Boys in Fairless Hills. After retiring, he spent his time volunteering at a local hospital.

Allen was introduced to the love of his life by mutual friends. Allen and Fern (nee Marmer) married in 1964 and had two children, Karen and Rob. He always said that marrying Fern and seeing his two children thrive were his best and proudest accomplishments.  

He taught by example the importance of hard work, laboring long hours, often outdoors, to dismantle and recycle vehicles. The jobs left him with dirt ingrained in the creases of his mighty hands, aching muscles, and souvenirs of treasures found in cars’ crevices.

 
Not a patient man, he had little love for Philadelphia’s often frustrating sports teams, but he made sure to take Karen and Rob to Phillies games, making at least one of them a lifelong fan. He also enjoyed gardening, sketching, and coloring, and he generously donated to many charitable causes.  

In his later years, Allen took great joy in spending time with his grandchildren, Ben and Shayna, and nurturing their education, interests, and hobbies. 
In addition to his wife, Fern, daughter, Karen, son, Rob, and grandchildren, Ben and Shayna, Allen’s survivors include his brother, Seymour Bailis; sister, Elaine Goodhart; and daughter-in-law, Julie McMahon Bailis.

The funeral will be held graveside at Shalom Memorial Park, 3573 Pine Rd., Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 at 11 AM, Monday, March 25, 2024.
Instead of flowers, the family welcomes donations to any of the causes to which Allen regularly donated, including Alley Cat Allies, Partners in Health, or the Anti-Defamation League.