Paul Bailey

Paul Delbert Bailey, 79, of Fort Collins, died Aug. 10, 2005, at his residence. Mr. Bailey was born James Delbert Lyerla on Sept. 3, 1925, in Alto Pass, Ill., to Grover Cleveland Lyerla and Elsie Mae McKinney Lyerla. By the age of 4, his birth parents had both died and he was adopted by Collin French and Blanche Beatrice Bailey. His name was then legally changed to Paul Delbert Bailey. Paul was a World War II veteran in the South Pacific, serving in the Army Signal Corps. He married Josephine Allen on March 4, 1950, in West Lafayette, Ind. They moved to Fort Collins from Michigan 22 years ago, having lived in Kettering, Ohio, for 29 years. Paul retired after 24 years as a product engineer for General Motors. He was a member of American Baptist Church and enjoyed woodworking and volunteering for local organizations. Mr. Bailey is survived by his wife, Jo Bailey, of Fort Collins; a son, Doug Bailey, of Lebanon, Ohio; a daughter, Ellen Miller, of Martinsville, Ind.; two brothers, Gordon Ray Lyerla, of Bakersfield, Calif., and Clyde Merle Lyerla, of Castro Valley, Calif.; one sister, Ethel Elva Norton, of Meridian, Miss.; five grandchildren, Darin Elizabeth, Dustin Collin, Deanna Lucille, Melanie Jo and Jenny Marie; and a great grandchild, Caleb Adam. Paul is preceded in death by his parents; adoptive parents; four siblings, Ruah Bernice Hunt, Virgil Cleveland Lyerla, William Crawford and Velma Ilene Elliott. A memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at American Baptist Church, 600 S. Shields St. The Rev. Dan Vincent will officiate. Memorial contributions can be made to American Baptist Church in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive St., Fort Collins, CO 80524.