Paula Jo (Whitesell) Allen was born July 27, 1943 in Afton, Oklahoma to Elmer and Della V. (Moore) Whitesell. Paula graduated from Vinita High School where she played saxophone in the band. When younger Paula liked to ride horses, but her favorite pastime was sitting outside on a bench while writing stories and in her journal.

She earned a bachelor's degree at the University of Oklahoma. In order to teach music she was required to learn to play multiple instruments, but her main studies were in piano. Paula's love for people was expressed by her long career in education. She began teaching in Checotah, Oklahoma and then moved to Texas where she taught music. She then worked in the emergency room at Hillcrest Hospital in Tulsa and was the Circulation Director of the ORU Library. Paula's last teaching position before retirement was in special education at Wagoner Public Schools.

Music and her family were the two most important things is Paula's life, and her family will miss her dearly. She departed this life Thursday, January 19, 2017 at Tulsa, Oklahoma. She is survived by her husband, Bruce Allen of the home in Hulbert; a daughter, JoAnne Carr of Morrison, Oklahoma; two sons, Bruce Allen Jr. and his wife, Whitney, of Owasso, Oklahoma and Raymond Allen of Hulbert, Oklahoma; a brother, Don Whitesell and his wife, Ann, of Vinita, Oklahoma and a sister, Gloria Wells and her husband, Alan, of Selma, California; a number of nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.

Viewing will be from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM Sunday at Mallett Funeral Home and Crematory in Wagoner, Oklahoma.

The funeral service will be at 1:00 PM Monday, January 23, 2017 at the First Baptist Church in Hulbert, Oklahoma, where Paula has been a member since 1984. The Reverend Glen Rowan will officiate.

Interment will be in the Hulbert Community (I.O.O.F.) Cemetery in Hulbert, Oklahoma.