Frederick Leroy Bagley, 85, a former resident of LaVale, Maryland, passed away on January 27, 2022 in Ames, Iowa, after a 3-year battle with cancer. Fred had moved to Ames, Iowa, in June of 2019 to be closer to family.

Born December 31, 1936 in Neffsville, Pennsylvania, to the late Fred S. Bagley and Martha Lucille Mason Bagley. He was preceded in his death by his sisters Shirley Louise Riding and Sylvia Jean DeWitt.

Fred was a 1954 graduate of Hyndman (PA) High School and a proud Marine Corps sergeant serving in the USMC during the post-Korean War era as radioman and sharpshooter.

He was a graduate of West Virginia University in forest management and was a life-long, 33-year, employee of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Department of Environment. He devoted his career to revegetating the earth through activities in mined-land reclamation and restoration. He supervised and planted over 1 million trees in western Maryland during his career to help rejuvenate the earth.

He loved working and being outside, gardening and tending to his land in Maryland. For some years he also tended to a Christmas tree farm business. He enjoyed the forest and the friendships he made there. He really enjoyed his conversations and friendship with a special neighbor Dan Foye in LaVale. He laughed a lot telling his stories of all the "funny things" that happened in the Marine Corps.

Fred was a member of the Cresaptown United Methodist Church for over forty years. He was a member of the Mountainside Marines for 13 years. He was a BIG Pittsburgh Steelers fan and fondly remembered the glory days of the 1970's teams and the turnaround of the "immaculate reception".

Fred was married to Lois (Ringer) Bagley on September 11, 1960. They were together for over 61 years up until his death.

He is survived by his wife Lois, a son Dr. Rod S. Bagley and wife Lynn (Grindle) of Stanhope, Iowa; three grandchildren; Dr. Joshua A. Bagley and wife Sara of Vienna, Austria, Jessica L. Bagley and husband Chris Holley of Vancouver, Washington, and Jordan P. Bagley of Perry, Iowa. Fred believed strongly in getting an education and was very proud that all in his family have college-level degrees. He is also survived by his only remaining sibling, Patricia Christner of McMurray, PA. He has a sister-in-law Lana Thompson and husband Ed and their daughter Tracey Smith of Meyersdale, PA, and niece Lana Schowengerdt of Holladay, UT.

Fred requested being cremated and returned to the earth with a graveside service being
conducted at a later date at the Maryland Veterans Cemetery at Rocky Gap MD.

Trees
Joyce Kilmer - 1886-1918
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree

online condolence may be directed to www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com