Paula Ann Smith was born to the late Sharon Smith and surviving Marvin Smith during Typhoon Della on Okinawa, Japan on Sept. 22, 1968. Paula recently and proudly celebrated her 54th birthday!
On Nov. 20, Paula joined her mother in heaven.
Paula was known and remembered throughout the Hermiston community for the kind person who enjoyed talking to everyone. Paula attended Hermiston High School and graduated in 1988. She was active in the Special Olympics and enjoyed snow shoeing, races and bowling. Paula proudly displayed her ribbons and certificates. She also kept busy setting up bingo tables at the Arc. When the Umatilla County Fair came around, Paula entered her photos. In her spare time she enjoyed word search puzzles, crafting, latch hooks, walking her dog Jesse, visiting neighbors, and spending time with friends and family.
In 2015, Paula’s family helped her make the conversion from Horizon Project to private care. This conversion helped her flourish! With the support and guidance of Kelli Crawford and Vionne Tricker, she learned how to can fruits and vegetables, cook, sew, ride the community bus, plant a garden, and drive a tractor and a lawn mower. She enjoyed shopping, crafting, sewing, painting, decorating her house for the holidays, and taking Jesse to his grooming appointments.
Paula is survived by her best friend and often referred to as “son” dog, Jesse (anyone who truly knew Paula knows how much she loved him); father, Marvin Smith; sisters, Tammy (Shawn) Gattis and Michelle (James) Seufert; brother, Taylor McKenzie; nieces, Sammantha (Bud) Lewis and Hannah (Diego) Casillas, Joseph Otis and Shane Franks; and great nieces and nephews, Joseph, Dakota, Kamerann, Jacinda, Jayden, Braelyn, Serenity, (late Jasper), Ellerie, Zoey, Elias, Sebastien, Payton, Payson and Cade.
Services will be held at a later date.
Please share memories of Paula with her family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
