Paula Taylor Beene, 64, of Macomb, passed away Friday, August 19, 2011, in Oklahoma City.

She was born July 8, 1947, to Paul and Jimmie Hutchings Taylor, in Ada.

Paula was raised in Ada and attended Ada Schools, graduating from Ada High School in 1964. She attended ECU in Ada and graduated from Memphis State. Paula received her Masters from OU.

She married her husband, Joe Beene August 27, 1965, in Ada.

Paula moved around and traveled with Joe as a military wife.

She taught school and served as principal at Sweethaven Christian School, in Altamont, Florida. After moving back to Oklahoma and settling in the Macomb area, Paula taught first grade at Macomb and Barnard, in Tecumseh, later serving as principal, at Barnard until her retirement. Some of her last words were "I love the Barnard Bunch."

Paula was a member of Sharon Baptist Church and played piano at Romulus Baptist Church, while a member there. She had a great love for her family and friends and enjoyed spending time with them. Paula enjoyed researching family history and her favorite pastime was shopping.

She was preceded in death by her father, Paul Taylor; grandson, Tyler Wilson and brothers-in-law, Jack Beene and Jonas Junior Beene.

Paula is survived by her husband, Joe of the home; mother, Jimmie Jo Taylor of Broken Arrow; two sons and daughter-in-law, James and Tena Beene of Sapulpa and John and fiance, Maeve Cumming of Brooklyn, New York; daughter, Michelle Beene of the home; grandchildren, Curtis Wilson of Wanette and Jonathan Beene of Sapulpa; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Betty and John Henry of Broken Arrow and Lee Ann and Les Cargill of Dallas, Texas; brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Sandy Taylor of Washington, D.C.; three brothers-in-law and spouses, Jim and Lavonna Beene of Noble, Jerry and Charlotte Beene of Shawnee and Robert and Doylene Beene of Ft. Worth, Texas; sister-in-law, Linda Beene of Macomb; and many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly.

Visitation will be from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m., Monday, August 22, 2011.

Service will be at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at Sharon Baptist Church with the Rev. Clint Dawkins officiating.

Burial will follow at Tribbey Cemetery under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home of Tecumseh.

Published August 21, 2011.