Paula Ann Clarkson, 77 of Northside, Texas died on Tuesday, August 30, 2022, in Wichita Falls, Texas.
Graveside services will be Friday, September 2, 2022 at 10:00 am at Bell Cemetery under the direction of Sullivan Funeral Home. Officiating will be Rev. Irl Holt
Paula was born Friday, January 5, 1945 in Vernon, Texas, she was the daughter of the late Charles Marion Clarkson and the late Ruth Lee Hamilton Clarkson. She attended school at Midwestern University, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. She was an investigator for Adult Protective Services. She was secretary for Northside School and she was the first woman on the Northside School Board. She was a member of Texas Cattle Woman’s Association, she was a master gardener and she was a rancher out by Northside. She was a member of Fargo Methodist Church.
Paula is survived by her daughter, Dawn Wilkinson of Vernon, TX, two granddaughters Blythe Freeling of Northside and Blaire Wilkinson, her sister, Betty Ruth Conkling of Fort Worth, TX.
Paula is preceded in death by her parents, son Barron Fortner, brother Richard Hamilton, sister Charlotte Clarkson and her life time companion Donnie Fortner.
Visitation will be Thursday, September 1, 2022 at 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Sullivan Funeral Home.
Memorials can be made to Alzheimer’s Foundation, Hospice of Wichita Falls or Northside School.
One of the best times of my life was dating Paula August the summer of 1962.. On my way to pick her up and my car broke down on old Rankin Highway. No cell phones and no traffic to catch a ride. Never saw her again that summer. Went to her ranch years later and we drank a beer together and talked on the phone frequently until one day years later she forgot who I was and finely Betty filled me in on the details.
A funny memory was when I was a manager of a Half Park pool on the south side of town 1862 and we decided to sneak over the fence at Hogan Park Pool to take and take a dip late one night. Down to our underwear and Olen Davis the manager did a late night check on the pool and caught us just as we were skinny dipping. He laughed and we dressed and resumed on last date that summer drinking Coors beer and laughing. She was so much fun and never quite smiling.
Betty kept me current but I missed her and am sad to see her go. Hopefully we will meet again!!!
John aka Jaunito