Alberta K. Connolly Arthur Bailey

Born July 13, 1917 in Waverly to Oren Edgar and Grace Agnes (Austiff) Eldridge, she married Edward James "Ted" Connolly on Sept. 19, 1938 in St. Louis.  He died in Aug. of 1981.  She then married Glenn Arthur in 1987 in Creve Coeur.  He died in 1987.  She later married William Bailey on Nov. 16, 1988 in St. Louis.  He died on May 11, 2004.  She also was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Opal Nevins and Ruby Connolly; two brothers, Maurice Eldridge and Murl Eldridge and two infant sisters, Martha Eldridge and Ruth Eldridge.

Surviving are one daughter, Ruth (Val) Wheeler of Pekin; four grandchildren, Dannette Rumsey of Morton, Kari (Jeff) Gardner of Groveland, Devin (Colleen Smith) Wheeler of Jacksonville, FL and Rebecca (Fred) Dirkse of Pekin; twelve great-grandchildren, River and Addison Rumsey, Gannon, Tanner and Brenna Gardner, Skylar, Brea, Kael and Dean Wheeler, Taylor Johnson and Kaiah and Dax Dirkse.

A graduate of Liberty Beauty College, Alberta owned and operated Style Rite Beauty Salon, located on Main Street in Creve Coeur, for over 35 years, retiring in 2003.  She loved spending time with her grandkids and great-grandkids.  She enjoyed cooking for her family and travelling.  Alberta's favorite pastimes included listening to country music, dancing, bowling and walking.

She was a member of the Creve Coeur Church of the Nazarene.

Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 24, 2011 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Creve Coeur.  The Rev. Mack Clark will officiate.  Visitation will be one hour before the funeral.  Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery in Pekin.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Midwest Affiliate, 4722 North Sheridan Road, Peoria, IL 61614.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com.