Funeral services for Paula Buehne, 69, Lawton, will be at 2:00 pm Thursday at Centenary United Methodist Church with Dr. Norma Quinn, Senior Pastor, officiating. Mrs. Buehne died Monday in a local care facility. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery under the direction of the Becker Funeral Home & Cremation Service. Paula Patricia Smith was born to LaFlora Smith and L. Paul Smith November 16, 1942 in Duncan, Oklahoma. She met Billy Ray Buehne when they were both twelve years old at Empire Elementary School and married eight years later, July 5, 1962 at First United Methodist Church in Duncan, Oklahoma. Paula and Bill made their home in Lawton, Oklahoma and lived in or around Lawton for all but three of the next fifty years. During this time they adopted two children Barry Paul in1971 and Julie Beth in 1977. Paula also claimed children by the dozens whom she helped guide through life and affectionately call her Mom'. Paula regarded her children as her most significant privilege and the marriage to her husband as her greatest achievement. Family was Paula's highest priority and throughout her life she maintained an open door welcoming many into her family. Even more than her life's work, teaching, Paula worked tirelessly to promote and protect her loved ones. Paula's passion in life was teaching. Paula's inspiration was Mrs.Smith, her teacher in the third grade, and from the point that she felt that calling she never wavered in her pursuit of helping children grow into adulthood. She spent her entire thirty year career teaching at Cleveland Elementary School in Lawton, Oklahoma and taught every grade but second. Sixth grade is where Paula felt that she had the greatest impact and dedicated almost the last third of her tenure to helping her children prepare and transition to junior high and middle school. Paula was always the advocate of children and no risk to reputation or social standing would deter her. She marched on Capitols for the education of children and visited former students while they sat in jail accused of murder and other crimes. She cried with them when former students came to confess crimes or addictions and worked with them to get back on a healthy path. Paula would say, "It doesn't matter what they have done, I always see them as the innocent child I first met. I want them to know that know that there is at least one person that believes in them." Paula retired from teaching in 2000 when her mobility was reduced from a knee injury and surgery. She retired with a group of teacher friends from Cleveland and kept contact with them in the form of monthly lunches until illness made it difficult to interact with friends and family. Paula was a life long Methodist and loved giving service in support of her church. She served on executive committees at both the church and district level and spent the last several years of her life maintaining the prayer calendar for Centenary United Methodist Church. Even when her own health impeded her ability to attend church service, Paula looked forward to her husband Bill bringing home the program from services on Sundays. Paula longed for her children, Barry and Beth to find success in their lives and partners to share those lives with. After her retirement she regularly traveled to different parts of the United States visiting her children, wherever they were pursuing their dreams. She was able to finally see both children married in 2009 and 2010. In 2006 Paula was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her battle won her admiration of friends, family, doctors and nurses. Paula maintained a positive and aggressive attitude throughout her that encouraged not only other patients, but inspired the doctors and nurses treating her. Paula's battle with breast cancer ignited her second crusade. Where teaching had been her passion in her younger years, Paula was now a champion in the fight against breast cancer. She wrote letters to the newspaper, she gave speeches at fundraisers and public gatherings, she became an advocate of the doctors and staff that provided her care when it came to battles over funding. Paula wore her breast cancer survivor ribbon with dignity and pride. At the time of her death Paula had been cancer free for five years. Paula is survived by her boyfriend of fifty-eight years and husband of almost fifty, Bill. She is also survived by her son, Barry, his wife Leilani and Paula's grandchildren Taylor, Logan, Kiden, Ryan and Paula's daughter Beth and her husband Jesse. Paula's sister LaFlora Jordan, cousin Lisa Cole, many nieces, nephews and countless friends will also carry her memory forward. Her parents preceded her in death. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cancer Centers of Southwest Oklahoma, Attention Research , 104 NW 31st Street, Lawton, Ok 73506