Paula Barthell Friday

1926 - 2012

ODESSA Paula Barthell Friday, 86, formally of Odessa, passed away peacefully in grace November 10, 2012, in Fort Worth, Texas.

She was born February 18, 1926, in Peoria, Illinois to Franklin and Frances Barthell.

After graduating from Saint Mary's Academy in South Bend, Indiana in 1945, she attended Bradley University and graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science in Retailing. She married Bob Friday on December 28, 1950, in Peoria, Illinois and they immediately moved to Odessa, Texas, where she lived for over 60 years.

Paula was a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. She was active in St. Mary's Catholic Church and School; past president of St. Mary's Altar Guild; past president of Odessa's Panhellenic; worked at the Well Baby Clinic; past president and organizer of Tri Delta Alumnae Group; the Permian Basin Rehabilitation Center; and past president of the Crystal Ball and other various organizations in Odessa.

Paula's priorities in life were her belief in God and her love of family and friends. She touched many lives with her generous heart and caring spirit and will be greatly missed by all the lives she touched. She loved playing bridge, needlepoint and volunteering in the community. Her favorite was looking forward to her annual Christmas party to celebrate the holiday season with her friends.
She was the matriarch of our family who taught us many life lessons. Her life was blessed with many cherished family and friends.

Paula was preceded in death by her loving husband, Bob Friday, of 60 years, her brother, Franklin and his wife Betty Barthell and her brother-in-law, Dave Schlink.

Survivors are her children: Patti Langford and husband Mike, Robert Friday and wife Ann of Odessa, Texas, Ann Crabtree and husband Ron of Aledo and Frank Friday of Fort Worth. Her grandchildren: Jennifer and Carrick Carpenter, Katie and Brad Seidler, Robert Friday III, Matthew Friday, Juliann Friday, Ryan Crabtree, Suzanne and Zac Pritchett, David Crabtree, Cullen Friday, Caroline Friday and her great-grandchildren Karris and Gavin Carpenter. Brothers and Sisters: Boots and Bernie Markoski of California, Barbara Schlink of Peoria, Illinois, and Dan and Brenda Barthell of Washington D.C.

The family wishes to thank all the caregivers of James L. West in Fort Worth and, in Odessa, her caregivers for all their loving care over the past few years.

Funeral mass will be at 11:00 AM Wednesday, November 14, 2012, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church (7601 N. Grandview) with Father Mark Woodruff officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 6:00 – 7:30 PM Tuesday, November 13, 2012, with a Rosary at 7:30 PM.

Pallbearers will be Ryan Crabtree, Robert Friday III, Matt Friday, David Crabtree, Cullen Friday, and Gavin Carpenter.

The family requests memorials be directed to James L. West Alzheimer Center, 1111 Summit Ave., Fort Worth, TX 76102 and or St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 7601 N. Grandview, Odessa, TX 79762 or to Parks Methodist Retirement Village, 111 Parks Village Drive, Odessa, Texas, 79765.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Sunset Funeral Home. To sign the guest book, go to our website at www.sunsetodessa.com.