Carolen Fay Bailey

Carolen (Gesin) Bailey of North Oaks, MN passed away peacefully on February 3, 2025, at the age of 88.

Preceded in death by parents Ernest “Andy” Gesin and Alice (Sobolik) Thies, husband Roger Bailey, sister Linda (Gesin) Dolan, and son Jeffry Bailey.

Carolen was born on September 30, 1936 in Osceola, IA. She then moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where she enjoyed her childhood with her two sisters and family. They moved back to St. Paul, MN where she started high school and met her husband, Roger, of nearly 70 years.

After graduating in two and a half years at the University of Minnesota, Cum Laude, with a B.A. in social work and psychology, she started her 36 year career in law enforcement at the St. Paul Police Department in 1961.

Carolen was a homicide investigator, vice squad commander, and lieutenant, becoming the first policewoman detective in Minnesota. Among her many accomplishments, she served as president of the International Association of Women Police, and executive director where she met with women police throughout the world, many of whom became lifelong friends. The Carolen Bailey Mentoring Award was established in her honor by the Minnesota Association of Women Police. She later served as Assistant Commissioner of Public Safety for the state of Minnesota ending her career in 1997.

She was a very talented sea shell artist winning blue ribbons year after year for her beautiful sea shell mirrors, wreaths, boxes, trees, crosses, and many other fabulous creations that she enjoyed making and giving away.

Being truly an eternal optimist, she found the good in everything, and was always positive, supportive, and smiling. She would often ask, “Can I help?” Or, would say, “If you’re good, then I’m happy!”

Her second home in Melbourne, FL was a special place where she would spend time with family and friends and loved being close to the ocean.

Survived by her sister Barbara (Gesin) Stone, sons Paul (Donna) Bailey, James (Kirsten) Bailey, grandson Eric (Hannah) Bailey, granddaughters Cynthia Bailey, and Elizabeth (Kyle) Glowa, and great granddaughter Evelyn Glowa.

The family will have a celebration of life ceremony for Carolen and Roger in June 2025.