Paula Jean Spriggs passed away at her home in Holdenville on Saturday morning, September 16, 2017, at the age of 65 years.

Paula was the daughter of Geron & Jessie (Law) McDonald, born on August 17, 1952, in Bakersfield, California, where her parents were migrant workers following various harvests. She was brought up in Boswell, Oklahoma where she attended schools and graduated Boswell High School with the Class of 1970. She attended nursing school in Hugo, Oklahoma, where she completed her LPN certification, and was able to take care of her mother during her extended illness until she passed away in 1983.

Paula was married to Dean Spriggs on December 5, 1982, in Wewoka, Oklahoma, and they made their home together in Holdenville for thirty-two years before Dean passed away on August 25, 2015. Paula retained her LPN license and worked for a short time in the Holdenville area, then became a full-time homemaker and minister, serving for several years as Pastor of Abundant Life Full Gospel Church in Holdenville. She loved to sew and to plant and care for flowers, but more than anything she loved to pray for people and their needs.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Geron & Jessie McDonald; her husband, Dean Spriggs; one son, David Lucas; one brother, Joe McDonald; three sisters: Norla Pierce, Mary Wilson, Katherine Riley; one nephew, Scotty Pierce.

She is survived by three children: Jonathan Spriggs, Amber Spriggs, Joshua Spriggs, all of the home; daughter-in-law Ruth Thompson of Fort Smith AR; eight grandchildren: Isaac Spriggs and Emily Spriggs of Fort Smith AR, Tyberius Hook, Jett McMahan, Kayden Spriggs, all of Holdenville, Ashley Choate of Wewoka, Heather Gerard of Stuart, and Brian Lucas of Cromwell; three sisters: Dorothy Crowder (Tommy) of Boswell, Juanita Davenport (Billy) of Bokchito, Millie Felice (John) of Hernando FL; brother-in-law Joe Pierce (Robbie) of Panama OK; numerous nieces and nephews, other family members, and many friends.

Funeral services were held on Friday, September 22, 2017, 2:00 p.m. at the Pentecostal Holiness Church in Holdenville, and Paula was laid to rest at Holdenville Cemetery with Rev. Joe Pierce officiating. Pallbearers were Jonathan Spriggs, Joshua Spriggs, Eddie Pierce, Kyle Fowler, Boone Griffin, and Harry Jensen. Paula's grandchildren served as honorary pallbearers.