Paula De Kraai, 65 years, of Fort Madison, Iowa passed away at 12:20 pm Friday July 26. 2019 at her home. She was born May 10, 1954 in Fort Madison, Iowa, a daughter of Carrol and Lucille (Holmes) Bailey. In 1971, she married Thad LeMatty. They had one son, Michael. They later divorced. She married Dennis De Kraai, they were together 38 years.

Paula worked at Walmart in West Burlington for 21 years. She was a member of the Madison Baptist Church in Fort Madison. She loved kids and would have done anything for anybody.

She is survived by her husband, Dennis De Kraai of Fort Madison; her mother, Lucille; one son, Michael (Bobbie) LeMatty of Burlington, Iowa; two step-sons, Eric (Hollie) De Kraai of New York and Dale (Nikkie) De Kraai of Bloomfield, Iowa; one step-daughter, Crystal Utterback of Ottumwa, Iowa; two brothers, Dan (Sandy) Bailey of Florida and Phillip Bailey of Denmark, Iowa; three sisters: Barb Bailey (Kevin Beach), Kim Bailey, and Karen (Lyndon) Decker, all of Fort Madison; one sister-in-law, Caroline Bailey of Keosauqua, Iowa, three grandkids who she helped raise: Jacob (Alisha) Rudd of Missouri, Emily Rudd of Ottumwa, and Lillian Rudd of Fort Madison, plus seventeen other grandkids; six great grandkids; and a very special niece, Mary Jenkins of Fort Madison. She was preceded in death by her father, Carrol, one brother, Mike Bailey, and one step-son, Dan De Kraai.

Visitation will be held from 10-00 - 11:00 am Wednesday, July 31, 2019 at the Barr Memorial Chapel, Fort Madison. A funeral service will follow and begin at 11:00 am Wednesday at the funeral home with Pastor Ken Barlow, officiating. A memorial has been established, contributions may be made at the funeral home.