Paula M. Stearman

Paula Mary Stearman was born November 14, 1953 in Jackson, Minnesota to Deloris Ann Olson and Paul Emil Hannaman.  Paula grew up as an Iowa farm girl with her mother and father George Newton Heston.  She graduated high school from Mormon Trail HS, Garden Grove, Iowa in 1972 while living in Humeston, Iowa.  She went to Graceland College, located in Lamoni, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Welfare.  While at Graceland, Paula met and married her husband, Michael David Stearman of Shawnee on May 8, 1976.  They moved to Shawnee, Oklahoma in 1977 to open the family owned Del Rancho Restaurant. During this time Michael and Paula raised their three children Matthew, Marc, and Michele, as they navigated life together through the restaurant business.

In 2010, Paula started working for Father Paul’s Home Integration, caring for handicapped adults. She helped provide them with a dignified standard of care, living in their own home, with full 24/7 care.  She retired in 2020, but it did not stop her from caring for her ladies.

Paula's passion in life was her children and scouting.  She started as a Den leader in 1988, and was an active adult scout leader for the next 33 years.  She is the mother of two Eagle scouts and her daughter a Venture Scout.  Paula is a Silver Beaver Recipient, a Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow, and Bobwhite critter in Wood Badge.  Paula made five treks at Philmont Scout Ranch, hiking 70-85 miles over 11 days with a crew of 12 youth and adults. Each of those treks ended walking across the Tooth of Time on the last day.  She always wished the scouts would pick another route so she could ride the bus into base camp for once.

As an adult leader and Advancement Chair of Troop 461 at Wesley Methodist Church, Paula guided dozens of youths to achievement in scouting, many becoming an Eagle Scout. She was mom, grandma, and sister to everyone she crossed paths with during her scouting career.  Paula’s legacy is Scouting, please do not send flowers, but give the same as a donation to a BSA troop of your choice.

Paula was preceded in death by her mother, Delores Ann Heston, fathers, George Newton Heston and Paul Emil Hannaman, brothers, Paul Rex (Butch) Hannaman and George Andrew Heston, and sister, Denise Ramona Hannaman.

She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Michael, her sons, Matthew and wife Janine Stearman and Marc Stearman, her daughter, Michele and husband Steven Muzny of Shawnee, sisters, Jerri and husband Leroy Alexander of Siloam Springs, AR, Cindy and husband Greg Miller of New Virginia, IA, Chuck and wife Karen Heston of Ridgecrest CA, Michele Hannaman, Darcelle Hannaman, and Patricia Dalin of Minneapolis, MN, grandchildren, Dawna Hansen, Gabriel, David Stearman, Andie, Brodie, Lindsi, Shelbi, and Issac Muzny.

A memorial ceremony will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, Oct. 2^nd at the Community of Christ Church in Seminole, OK where she is a member.