Published in The Pilot March 17, 1926

Mary F. Fletcher, daughter of Joseph and Lois Fletcher, was born at North Searsmont, Maine, February 12, 1846 and departed this life March 11, 1926 at the age of 80 years and 27 days. She came to Nebraska in 1864 while Nebraska was still a territory settling at what was known then as Cumming City and where in 1865 she was united in marriage to William T. Bailey. Shortly after she and her husband united with the Baptist Church at Cuming City. She ever after exemplified her faith in the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Her husband preceded her to the great beyond in 1892 in Colorado at which place he was laid to rest. Several years ago Mrs. Bailey or “Aunt Mary” as she was familiarly called, suffered a stroke of paralysis from which she never fully recovered. She leaves to mourn her loss two children, Mrs. Mamie Detweller, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Charles Bailey, now living at Shreveport, Louisiana. The girl was duly adopted but the boy was raised by Mr. and Mrs. Bailey. She also leaves two brothers, F. E. Fletcher, of Herman and E. M. Fletcher, of Blair, Nebr., and a large number of relatives and friends. Mrs. Bailey had lived many years with her brother, F. E. Fletcher and nieces, Alma and Birdie, who have been untiring in their efforts to make her declining years as pleasant and as comfortable as possible. The funeral was held at the New England Baptist Church Saturday afternoon, March 13, at 2 o’clock, Rev. T. J. Reese pastor of the Herman Baptist Church, having charge of the ceremony. The singers were Mrs. C. E. Johnson, Mrs. L. V. Ackerman, Fred Robertson and Edgar Skinner with Mrs. O. H. Godsey at the piano. Mrs. Bailey was laid to rest in the New England Cemetery.

Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clipping on file at the Blair Public Library.