Dec. 31, 1939 Dec. 6, 2024
Paula Rae (Irwin Duggan) Rhodes, age 84, of Yukon, OK passed away peacefully on Friday, December 6, 2024, surrounded by her family. Following a stroke on May 31, 2024, she was lovingly cared for at The Mansion at the Waterford in Oklahoma City.
Paula was born December 31, 1939, in Kansas City, Missouri to Ray Bennett Irwin and Harriett Irene (Schwartz) Irwin. Her early childhood was spent living across the street from her maternal grandparents, Clifton H. Schwartz (Papa) and Emma Alice (Trautman) Schwartz on Lake Lotawana near Lee’s Summit, MO. For a few years the family moved to Fremont, CA where her parents operated a truckstop restaurant before moving back to the lake in Missouri in 1949.
She married John Daniel (Danny) Duggan on February 7, 1959, and within a few years moved to Tampa, KS where Danny farmed with his dad, Frank Duggan. They had five children: Eileen, Elaine, Jim, Christine and John. The family moved to Durham, KS in 1969.
In May 1980 Paula married Dean Rhodes in Miami, OK, and they celebrated 16 years of marriage before his death in January 1997.
From a young age Paula loved sewing and was an accomplished seamstress. She sewed beautiful clothes for herself, her children and family and eventually for customers too numerous to count over the years. In addition to sewing she knitted, crocheted and made beautiful needlepoint pictures. Her hands were incredibly talented in whatever project she undertook.
Flowers and animals (specifically dogs) were more of Paula’s passions. She always had a pet dog (or two) and they provided her so much company and enjoyment, especially after Dean’s passing. Shortly after Dean’s passing she lost the last of her two dogs and this loneliness prompted her to move to Cordell, OK in May 1997 to be closer to her children in Oklahoma. (Of course she did get another pug after she moved.)
Her sewing and alterations business flourished in Cordell and along with the customers she made many new friends. Paula never knew a stranger. It was a standing joke that she would talk to a fencepost. She was always willing to give a helping hand and share whatever she had if you needed it.
Paula always had the most beautiful flowers in her yard and plants in her home. When she was ready to move to Yukon in 2019, a count of plants inside her home was 147. She had a very green thumb and grew large vegetable gardens. She was annoyed when she moved to OK that there were no rhubarb plants for sale and the mail order ones just weren’t up to her standards. She loved cooking and baking and was always trying new recipes. Paula loved being outdoors and could tell you what species of bird was singing or even flying by. Many birds (and squirrels) saw her yard as an oasis and were happy to eat well and splash in her many birdbaths or her massive fountain.
Paula had a stubborn streak and would not take no for an answer. Obstacles just weren’t in her way—whether it was putting a window in a brick wall so she could look outside her garage sewing room or whether that window in the dining room just wasn’t big enough. Or the time she decided she wanted sliding glass doors to go from her bedroom out to the backyard…no matter the whole wall was brick. She always figured out how to make something work or she’d call her friend Earl and he would help make it happen.
She loved her family and was so proud of their accomplishments. She always had time to hem a pair of pants or make an adjustment to this shirt or dress. She loved those quick visits with her grandkids and great grandkids.
Since her move to Yukon she hadn’t found a church home but she loved the Lord and lived a life of service to her family and friends.
Paula was preceded in death by her parents, Harriett and Ray Irwin, and her husband, Dean Rhodes.
She is survived by Daughters Eileen (Eddie) Killmer of Yukon, OK, Elaine (Bruce) Carlson of Palm Coast, FL, Christine Duggan of Canton, KS; Sons Jim (Doni) Duggan of Cordell, OK and John (Deborah) Duggan of Chickasha, OK; Granddaughters April (Ben) Baxter of Granbury, TX, Amber (Trevor) Earls of Yukon, OK, Kimberly (Chris) Niedfeldt of Wamego, KS; Grandsons JC Duggan, Guthrie, OK, Tom Soukup of Palm Coast, FL, Kevin (Jessica) Blackwell of Newton, KS and Great-grandchildren Solomon and Gabriel Baxter, Piper and Hudson Earls, Evan and Gwyn Soukup, Trista and Gavin Blackwell, Jordan, Shelby and Payton Wherry; Sisters Lou (Pete) Duran, Cordell, OK and Jean Henke of Arizona; many nieces and nephews and Cousin Clifton (Marcia) of Kansas City, MO.
Services were held at First Baptist Church in Durham, KS on December 12 with interment following at College Hill Cemetery. A Celebration of her life will be held at her home in Yukon, OK after the holidays.