Burt V. Pauley

Burt V. Pauley passed from this life on March 23 in Abilene, Texas. He was born on May 20, 1922 to Arley and Maude Pauley in Kleen Koal, West Virginia, the oldest of 7 children. His early education was in West Virginia. During World War 2 he served in the Army, and was discharged in Washington State, then moved to California to continue his education at Pepperdine College in Los Angeles. There he met his future wife, Lorraine (Moran) and they married on June 4, 1946, a marriage of 66 years. After graduating from Pepperdine earning his degree in Psychology and Education, Burt enrolled in Graduate School at the University of So. California to enter the Masters and Doctoral programs. Lorraine was attending UCLA Graduate School, so they teased about being cross town rivals in football.

After several years of teaching in the Los Angeles school system and one year at Florida Christian College, Burt was invited to become the minister of the 9th and Lime Church of Christ in Riverside, California. There he found his true calling and spent more than 50 years preaching, teaching and counseling, conducting workshops for teachers and working with family and youth camps in California and Arizona. He filled the pulpit of congregations in San Diego, Alhambra, Yucaipa, Richmond and Barstow in California and Sierra Vista, Arizona. Realizing the need to be near their aging parents and help with their care, the Pauleys returned to Banning, California where they lived for 23 years, while Burt served as an elder in the church and as a fill-in preacher for a number of congregations. Finally Burt's health issues made it necessary to make a move to Abilene in 2009 to be closer to their children. They worshipped with the Oldham Lane Church of Christ.

Burt is survived by his wife, Lorraine, son, John Pauley (wife, Carol), Coppell; daughter, Mary Ross, Abilene; four grandchildren- Marissa Thompson (husband Tanner), Abilene; Andrew Pauley (wife, Brittany), Sugar Land; Morgan Ross, Abilene; Kate Pauley, Westlake, CA; three great-grandchildren, Addison, Sawyer and Lainey Thompson, Abilene; his sister, Linda Hays (husband, Charles), Long Beach, CA; three sisters-in-law, Joan Pauley, CA, Wanda Nesbit, OR, and Mary Moran, WA; one brother-in-law, Dan Moran (wife, Liang), CA, also many nephews and nieces and a host of beloved friends.

Burt was preceded in death by his parents, one son, Joseph Pauley, one granddaughter, Marshaun Ross, one brother, Wilton Vaughn Pauley; four sisters, Barbara Prigmore, Flora, Kathleen and Phyllis Pauley.

Burt loved his family and called his wife, his "very best friend." Above all, he loved God and had a special love for his many preacher friends, whom he plans to meet in the "southwest corner of heaven." Burial will take place in Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, CA. A local memorial service is planned for 1:00 pm Tuesday, March 26, 2013 in the Piersall Benton Chapel, 733 Butternut St with Chris McCurley of Oldham Lane Church of Christ officiating.

The family wishes to express their appreciation to devoted aide, Karla for her kind, loving assistance in his care and to Hendricks Hospice personnel, include Nurse Tommie and volunteer sitter David as well as other hospice helpers who were there when we needed them. Donations may be made to Christian Works for Children, 6320 LBJ Freeway Ste 126, Dallas, TX 75240 or New Mexico Christian Children's Home, 1356 New Mexico 236, Portales, New Mexico, 88130-9411. Condolences may be offered to the family online at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com.