Paula Stearman has sadly passed away on January 4, 2024 in Stillwater, Oklahoma at the age of 76. Paula Louise Stearman was born on October 20th, 1947, in Los Angeles, California to Bernice Jauch and Robert Johnson. As a young girl, her mother passed away and she moved to Cushing, Oklahoma to live with her maternal grandparents, Dode and Paul Jauch, who ultimately raised her as their own. She grew up on a farm and loved all that entailed. She was a country girl thru and thru with a love for the outdoors and animals. She said "climbing trees and getting skinned up knees was a regular part of her days growing up".

She graduated from Ripley High School in May of 1965. Even though she was a tomboy, she also loved hair and make-up, she became a cosmetologist as her lifetime career. She was also quite the entrepreneur and owned her own beauty shop for years.

She married Theodore L Stearman in January of 1970 and they had two children, Stephen (Stevie) Stearman and Stacey Stearman Mott Lynch. As a young married couple, they moved around to several other western US states early in their marriage, but ultimately decided to settle in Sapulpa, Oklahoma to raise their children.

When her son was grown and her daughter was in high school, they decided that the little mountain town of Dolores, Colorado was where they wanted to live. She and her husband, Ted, owned a restaurant and bar there which they enjoyed for a while, but eventually she returned to doing hair and opened her own beauty shop. Colorado was the perfect place for her to spend time enjoying all nature had to offer. She explored her love for horses and owned and loved many during these years. She adored trail riding with family and friends, and was very involved in the horse community. As well as enjoyed guiding her grand-daughter rodeo endeavors from rodeo play days, to high school rodeos and competitive rodeos. She went to many, many rodeos and she even rode in many local parades. Her love for horses never faded, she rode into her 70's. She attended as many functions that involved her grandchildren as possible.

After semi-retirement, the couple moved back to Perkins, Oklahoma to be closer to her 2 children and 5 grandchildren. She worked doing hair at an assisted living part time until just a few years ago. Paula, had a great friend community that enjoyed spending time together at events such as "hot dog roast". Her love for her children and grandchildren was always abundant and never without doubt. As much as she adored her family, she had two other loves in her life, Sam & Charlie her faithful dogs. She spoiled them and took them with her as often as she could.


She was over the moon that this last year she had 3 more great-grandchildren, bringing the total to 5 great grandchildren. She relished the days when the family would gather for a meal and debate on politics or other worldly issues.

Unexpectedly, on the evening of January 4th, 2024 she passed away. She was surrounded by her family and friends. She did not wish to have a funeral or viewing, so the family will respect that wish and instead have a celebration of her life in the spring.

She was survived by her husband, Theodore Stearman of Perkins, OK., her son Stephen Stearman & wife, Joya of Mustang, Ok. her daughter, Stacey Stearman Mott Lynch & her husband, Ron of Yukon, Ok, and her five grand-children, Zachary Stearman, Darean Mott Gatto, Daniel Stearman, Rylan Mott, and Mary-Madison Stearman, and her 5 great-grandchildren.