Wilma "Jean" Paul

Wilma Jean (Maxson) Paul, age 89 passed away peacefully with her children by her side on August 11, 2022, at her home in McKinney, Texas.  She was born July 8, 1933, in Coffeyville, KS to Willard Andrew and Lola Mae (Shufelt) Maxson.

Jean grew up in rural Edna, KS and attended Leib school for elementary and then graduated from Edna High School in 1950.  She continued to Labette Community College for 1 year before moving back to her parent’s farm.   While in college Jean worked as a bank teller in the Community Bank in Parsons, KS

Jean met the love of her life Joseph Lee “JL” Paul and they were married on March 29, 1953.  They were blessed with 3 children.  Jean and JL raised their family in Edna, KS where she was the secretary for Edna Elementary School.  Jean and JL celebrated 68 years of marriage.   Throughout their marriage they were involved in many activities.  They lived on a small acreage and had livestock (sheep, cattle, horses, pigs and chickens) and raised a very large garden each year. They would share their produce with the community of Edna.    They were active leaders in 4-H, Saddle Club, Methodist Church and Masonic Hall/Eastern Star.  In 1997 she retired from USD 506.   Jean and JL spent the next two decades traveling throughout the states and around the world.   Some places they visited were Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Switzerland, China and many other countries.   They loved to take cruises and belonged to a couple of different travel clubs.   They cruised to Alaska, the Caribbean, and through the Panama Canal three times.  Jean enjoyed meeting new people and was a friend to everyone.  She loved seeing all of the sights but always looked forward to returning home.

Family was important to Jean.  She spent much of her free time traveling to Edmond, OK and Plano, TX to spend time with her children and grandchildren.   She loved going to her grandchildren’s activities and tried to attend as many as possible.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents (Willard and Lola Maxson), husband (Joseph Lee “JL” Paul), an infant son (Gregory Alan Paul) and brother (Leon Maxson).

Jean was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend to many.  She will be dearly missed by all those who knew her.

Jean is survived by her sister: Carole (Maxson) Brown and her husband Charles, Grove, OK; her children: a son Doug Paul and his wife Leslie, Afton, OK; and daughter Alesia (Paul) Malone and her husband Barry, Plano, TX.   Grandchildren:  Brooke (Paul) Stephens and her husband Zach, Owasso, OK; Ashley (Malone) Seiffert and her husband Joe, Ankeny, IA; Kyle Malone, Plano, TX; Alexa Paul, Edmond, OK, and Garrett Malone, Plano, TX.   She has 3 great grandchildren:   Harper Stephens, Graham Seiffert and Olivia Stephens.

Visitation is on Sunday, August 21, 3pm-5pm at Edna Methodist Church, Edna, KS

Services are on Monday, August 22, 1:00 pm at Edna Methodist Church, Edna, KS under the direction of Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel and burial at North Edna Cemetery immediately following the service. Services will be available for viewing in addition the ability to leave an online message of condolence or to share a memory by visiting www.fordwulfbrunschapel.com

The family requests in lieu of flower a memorial be given in her name, payable to the Edna Methodist Church or Edna Elementary and may be left in care of the chapel.