Aletha Irene (Fitzgerald) Bailey, 81, of Brookston died Thursday, February 17, 2005, at Monticello Assisted Living. She had been in failing health for the last several years.

She was born at Brookston on October 27, 1923, to William and Florence (Herdman) Fitzgerald and was a direct descendant of William Pitt, the famous British premier.

She was a 1941 graduate of Brookston High School.

She married Paul O. Bailey at the Monticello Methodist Church in Brookston on February 6, 1949. He survives.

She was a homemaker.

She had worked at the Brookston Corner Cafe and Brown Rubber Company in Lafayette for 17 years.

She was a member of the Brookston United Methodist Church where she was involved in the Women's Fellowship. She was in charge of coordinating funeral and social dinners at the church for many years. She held the position of Sunday School Secretary from 1934 until retiring in 2000.

She was also a Past Noble Grand of the Rebekah Lodge No. 376 in Brookston. She was also past president of the Past Noble Grand Club.

She enjoyed high school athletics, especially Frontier's boys' basketball, candy making and spending time with her husband and grandchildren.

Other survivors include daughters, Paulette (Byron) Logan and Phyllis Sue Bailey, all of Monticello; brother Robert (Louise) Fitzgerald of Peru; grandchildren, Piper (Scott) Stankard, Paige Logan and Brady Logan and three great-great grandchildren.

Four brothers, three sisters and grandson, Blake Logan are deceased.

Funeral services were Tuesday, February 22, 2005 at Hartzler-Clapper Funeral Home in Brookston.

Burial was in Brookston I.O.O.F. Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Brookston United Methodist Church or the Monticello Comprehensive Development Center.