Karla Jean Pauley
March 15, 1933 — May 29, 2019
Karla Jean Kirby Pauley was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on March 15, 1933. She was the third and only surviving child of Edgar Franklin Kirby and Lucy Irene May Kirby. Karla attended country school, eventually earning her high school diploma from Harlan High School in 1950. After high school, she worked for Bud and Bruce Ouren of Ouren Title Company. Karla lived most of her life in Shelby County, living in or near Harlan, Portsmouth and Persia.
In 1955, Karla met Kevin Joseph Pauley who had returned home to Portsmouth after serving two years in Korea. They married on May 26, 1956, thoroughly pleased to now be sharing the same initials. Karla always knew she wanted a large family, never liking the quietness of being an only child. She and Kevin happily shared the same initials with their eight offspring: Kurt Joseph, Kent John, Kathleen Joy, Keith James, Kay Jean, Kelly Jon, Kerri Jane and Kirby Jerome.
Karla loved the sound of a baby's coo, the sight of her prized chickens scratching happily about, and the fragrance of lilacs in bloom. A gentle and unassuming woman, she was a master listener and a prolific greeting card sender. She loved people and the relationships that glued people together. If you ever shared your news with her, she would be sure to ask after you and your circumstances the next time she saw you. Karla would laugh uproariously when caught cheating at UNO and she was thoroughly ticked at her children for throwing her an 80th birthday celebration when a card shower would do. She wasn't a complainer, even when life proved hard, losing her mother when Karla was 14, her father when she was 28 and her husband Kevin at 56.
Karla died of natural causes at Bethany Lutheran Home in Council Bluffs on May 29, 2019. She was 86. Karla leaves behind a family grateful for her strength and love, with her children Kurt and Suzie Pauley of Farragut, Kent Pauley of Denison, Kathleen and Ken Cue of Persia, Keith Pauley of La Vista, Nebraska, Kay Stevens of Carroll, Kelly Pauley of Elkhorn, Wisconsin, Kerri and Tim Kelly of Omaha, Nebraska, and Kirby and Gayle Pauley of Greenville, Wisconsin; 20 grandchildren and four great grandchildren; honorary children Ron and Janet Heese, Sue Linn, Christy Smith, and Lisa Knutson; her in-laws Neil & Marian Pauley and Lloyd Pauley; Diane Pauley-Miller; Janet Pauley; Barb Schleimer ; and nieces and nephews.
May you soar on angel's wings.
In 1955, Karla met Kevin Joseph Pauley who had returned home to Portsmouth after serving two years in Korea. They married on May 26, 1956, thoroughly pleased to now be sharing the same initials. Karla always knew she wanted a large family, never liking the quietness of being an only child. She and Kevin happily shared the same initials with their eight offspring: Kurt Joseph, Kent John, Kathleen Joy, Keith James, Kay Jean, Kelly Jon, Kerri Jane and Kirby Jerome.
Karla loved the sound of a baby's coo, the sight of her prized chickens scratching happily about, and the fragrance of lilacs in bloom. A gentle and unassuming woman, she was a master listener and a prolific greeting card sender. She loved people and the relationships that glued people together. If you ever shared your news with her, she would be sure to ask after you and your circumstances the next time she saw you. Karla would laugh uproariously when caught cheating at UNO and she was thoroughly ticked at her children for throwing her an 80th birthday celebration when a card shower would do. She wasn't a complainer, even when life proved hard, losing her mother when Karla was 14, her father when she was 28 and her husband Kevin at 56.
Karla died of natural causes at Bethany Lutheran Home in Council Bluffs on May 29, 2019. She was 86. Karla leaves behind a family grateful for her strength and love, with her children Kurt and Suzie Pauley of Farragut, Kent Pauley of Denison, Kathleen and Ken Cue of Persia, Keith Pauley of La Vista, Nebraska, Kay Stevens of Carroll, Kelly Pauley of Elkhorn, Wisconsin, Kerri and Tim Kelly of Omaha, Nebraska, and Kirby and Gayle Pauley of Greenville, Wisconsin; 20 grandchildren and four great grandchildren; honorary children Ron and Janet Heese, Sue Linn, Christy Smith, and Lisa Knutson; her in-laws Neil & Marian Pauley and Lloyd Pauley; Diane Pauley-Miller; Janet Pauley; Barb Schleimer ; and nieces and nephews.
May you soar on angel's wings.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Karla Jean Pauley, please visit our flower store.