JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A man who died while working to move a mobile home was married with three children, News4Jax learned Wednesday.
The 36-year-old’s wife, Melanie, identified the man as William Bailey, who she said was her husband of 16 years. She said he was originally from New York and worked as a contractor for New Beginning & Start LLC.
“I just remember his last words to me this morning (were), ‘I have a bad feeling about moving this today,’” she said. " Then he said, ‘Bye’ and ‘I love you,’ and when he told me that, I wanted him to go back home and not work, but he’s so set when he puts his mind to something."
READ: Man trapped under mobile home he was trying to move dies
His wife said that two weeks ago, he was baptized. It was a special moment for the family.
“He came in so proud,” she said. “He was just ear to ear smiles.”
Melanie Bailey said she’s grateful her husband had the spiritual moment before his death.
“He has fought over the years with many demons, and he was finally turning his life around and making a better life,” she said.
A family member started an online account to raise money for funeral expenses.
According to the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, the company on Tuesday had the home jacked up and it shifted as the crew tried to move it. Firefighters said the structure then fell on top of William Bailey when he went underneath to check on equipment.
The co-owner of the moving company told the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office the structure was in the process of being declared unsafe.
A statement from the moving company reads: