Paula Jean Lewis

Paula Jean Lewis

Paula Jean Lewis, 89, was born on August 10, 1935, to the late Tol and Hazel (Coln) Dickenson. She was 'Booper' to her sisters, 'Momma' to her children, and 'Grandma' to many more. She passed from this earth on Sunday, August 18, 2024, at home, surrounded by her family.

Paula was raised in the Norman area with her three sisters: Tollie Burnett, Larry Gail Russell, and Karen Diers. After graduating from Norman High School, she married Larry Ray Johnson. She spent several years as a military wife on various Army bases in the United States and Germany. Together, they had four children: Larry, Calvin, Brenda, and Page. She would later marry Bob Lewis. They merged her children with Bob's son, Randy, and they added another son, Rush, to the bunch.

Paula was a strong, independent woman with numerous talents! She retired from the Veterans Center in the late 1990s. Prior to caring for veteran patients, she single-handedly ran a 1200-acre ranch in Mill Creek, as a single mother, while raising her four oldest children. She was a pioneer in the predominantly male field of artificial breeding of cattle and was the only woman to attend training in the 1960s. She was able to A.I. her own Charolais cattle and spent many years helping other cattle ranchers do the same. Her massive bulls were so gentle that they would eat right out of her hand. Paula was an avid animal lover, and raised many wild varmints: raccoons, opossums, rabbits, pigs, deer, skunks and probably things we have long forgotten. She would nurse them on tiny bottles, raise them up, and turn them loose. She had an incredibly green thumb! Her gigantic gardens would produce more vegetables than we could eat, and so she would spend time canning the extras. Her pickles and jelly really could have been award-winning! She was an excellent cook and seamstress. Grandma's Spaghetti was a family favorite! She spent many hours sewing shirts, blankets, and clothing for her kids and grandkids. Paula truly enjoyed exciting games of Wahoo and Rummy, family camping trips, her gardens, and loving on her animals. Her pride and joy, though, were her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren! She loved watching them do the things they loved.

While Paula had a life full of great adventures with her family, some of her favorite memories from her younger years were spent outdoors riding her beloved horse, April. She always said 'if April could talk, she could tell it all'. Paula will be laid to rest with April, in a private service.

In addition to her parents, Paula was preceded in death by one sister (Tollie), Bob Lewis, daughter Brenda Barnes, son Randy Lewis, and grandsons Ethan Barnes and Dusty Johnson.

Left behind to cherish the memories are children: Larry and Jan Johnson, Calvin Johnson, Page Johnson, Rush Lewis and Riann; Grandchildren Stephanie and Jason Rogers, Jeremiah and Shiann Johnson, Montana Johnson, Justin Johnson, Melanie and Brady Mahoney, Jeremy and Lori Barnes, Flint Barnes, Dakota and Erin Lewis, Jake and Tiara Gulla, Arena and Kendall Fletcher, Makynze Lewis, and Kade Lewis; great-grandchildren - Dylan, Charlie and Randie Rogers; Skylee, Jessa, and Jaden Johnson; Maci Barnes; Ethan, Ollie, and Zoie Barnes; Nora Lewis; Sawyer and Finn Gulla; Lynnlee Fletcher; Breece Lewis; Brandon and Christian Mahoney; Tyler and Nicole Barnes; Swayzee Morris and Siddalee Handke; sisters Karen Diers and Larry Gail Russell, and numerous nieces and nephews..

Cremation was "Entrusted To" HALE'S Funeral Home of Davis, OK.

Online condolences may be offered at halesfuneralhomes.com.