Amadeus Bailey McRae

Amadeus had a brilliant and inquisitive mind. At the age of five or six, he watched the PADI scuba diving training videos, and could explain clearly the relationship between pressure, density and volume. He was frustrated that he had to wait to become a certified scuba diver due to the PADI rules on age. On 16 September 2011, at the age of 12, he earned his Open Water Scuba Diver certification. Since about the age of three, Amadeus was crazy about the military. While some kids change from wanting to grow up to be a fireman to veterinarian to owning a store, he changed his mind from Army Infantry to Marines and finally to joining the Coast Guard to learn to fly helicopters, completing his enlistment with the Coast Guard, and then joining the Marines already trained as a helicopter pilot. He longed to be part of a team, doing something important to serve other people. He couldn't see the point of doing endless assignments over school material that he already understood, so he refused to do them, and consequently failed out of class after class, despite having mastery of the material. He withdrew from high school at the end of his sophomore year, and signed up for GED preparatory classes at SkillSouce. After taking the pretests to identify deficiencies, he was informed that he was already ready. He passed all four parts of the GED tests on the first try and without studying, one of them with nearly an honors level score. He then set about finding a job, but was frustrated at every turn, because he found that employers wouldn't hire someone who was not yet 18 years old. He landed a job at Crunch Pak, but was devastated when he had to quit after working only one day because his knees couldn't take it. He was in so much pain that he could barely walk, but nevertheless completed his shift. He was determined to find a job he could do, and applied for every job opening he could think of. He was fiercely loyal and protective of those whom he loved and cared for. When he learned that the government had been shut down, he begged his mother to allow him access to the gun safe. When she refused, he marched into the kitchen and retrieved the largest kitchen knife he could find, and stood beside the front door so he could defend his home and family from the marauders he imagined would be roaming the streets, with no law enforcement to stop them. He was an outspoken supporter of Second Amendment rights. He was a skilled marksman, and one of his proudest days was when he challenged his brother-in-law, Alan Harper, who is an expert competitive shooter, to a shooting contest. Amadeus challenged Alan that Amadeus would shoot offhand, and Alan would shoot prone with no support, at steel targets at 200 yards. Amadeus finally narrowly missed a shot in the second round, but he was so proud that he could go toe to toe with Alan. Amadeus shot his first deer at the age of 11, shooting a deer through the heart at more than 200 yards, shooting offhand with no support. He was so proud to be contributing something as tangible as food on the table for his family. He shot his second deer two years later. Amadeus was also a very outspoken supporter of the right of every single human being to the same human rights, regardless of their race, religion, sex or sexual orientation. He followed with great interest the progress made, state to state, on equal marriage rights, cheering each state that adopted equal marriage rights, and especially the final victory at the United States Supreme Court. He would chide his friends, or anyone else, who used racial or sexual slurs, telling them that they shouldn't treat other people that way. He was always mindful of the feelings and beliefs of others, being careful to do no harm to anyone, and looking for opportunities to do good for others. He had the deepest of respect for the beliefs of others, even those whose beliefs he did not share. He volunteered at the food bank and with children's events, such as the Halloween open house for children at the fire station, and several summers at his grandma's church when they held Vacation Bible School. Amadeus had not cut his hair for several years, letting it grow quite long, and he was quite proud of it. Shortly before his 17th birthday, he made the decision to cut it very short, collecting the long hair that had been cut off so that he could donate it to Locks of Love to be made into a wig for a child who had lost his or her hair due to chemotherapy for cancer. It made him happy to think of his long, curly blond hair helping a child feel better. He had many friends, and he made them feel welcome in his home, and in his life. He thoroughly enjoyed floating the Wenatchee River with family and friends whenever he could. One of his favorite family activities was to go to Barview Jetty Beach near Tillamook, and build a fire from driftwood on the beach. He and his family would watch the sun set, and then see how many satellites and shooting stars everyone could see in the night sky. He also made close friends while online gaming, and kept in touch with them over the years, becoming more than just gaming companions. He was planning on travelling to New York and West Virginia to meet them in 'real life'. Amadeus had more going for him than most people his age, and had great plans for his future. His life was cut tragically short by experimenting with drugs, trying to deal with the frustration and despair in his life. If anything good can come out of this tragedy, it would be that lessons are learned from his experience, a similar senseless death is avoided, and another family and community is spared the grief of losing a person as beautiful as Amadeus. Amadeus leaves behind many friends and family members. He is survived by his parents Bill Bailey and Heather McRae, his brother Thadeus Bailey McRae, his sisters Nicole Bailey Harper (husband Alan Harper), Angela Bailey Echols (husband Joe Echols), Jessica Bailey (boyfriend Daniel Scott Fohn), grandparents Pat Bentz (husband Wes Bentz), Frances McRae (late husband Bob Diesner), Robert D. McRae Sr. (wife Carole McRae), Uncle Merle Bailey, Aunt Theresa McRae, Uncle Robert D. McRae Jr. (wife Katrina McRae), Uncle Richard McRae (wife Mary McRae), Aunt Laurel McRae (husband Michael Nelson) and his beloved Bichon Frise dog Daisy. He is preceded in death by his Grandparents Eugene Bailey and his wife Billie Bailey.

Amadeus Bailey McRae

December 28, 1998 - January 8, 2016