Paula Deist

Paula Sue (Overton) Deist, age 77, passed away unexpectedly on June 11, 2025. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and aunt, she lived a life full of faith, love, service, and adventure.

Meeting her at Heaven’s gate was her beloved husband and travel partner of 43 years, Robert “Bob” Deist; her parents, Douglas and Mildred (Long) Overton; her brother, Steven Long; and sisters Kaye Hibbs and Barbara Jones, along with many other predeceased family members and friends.

Paula took great pride in ensuring her family was raised in faith and rooted in the love of Jesus. Her greatest legacy is the strong foundation of belief, compassion, and curiosity she instilled in them.

She is remembered by her daughters, Laura Skipper and Kim (Ron) Almond; grandchildren Michael Wood, Cody Almond (Rachel), Ashlee (Alec) Burgess, Chelsea (Ryan) Hill, Kelsey (Trae) Norton, and Kinzee Almond; and great-grandchildren Aubree Shuffield, Grayson Shuffield, Kennedy Smith, Knox Batchelor, Kent Batchelor, Reid Hill, Rowan Hill, Eric Freeman and Jon Freeman. She also leaves behind her sister, Peggy Tedeschi; several cousins; nieces and nephews, including Huey Estell, who held a very special place in her heart.

Paula retired from Lakeside Schools after 25 years of dedicated service but continued working for many years as a substitute teacher.

A lifelong traveler with an adventurous spirit, Paula visited every state in the U.S. and more than 30 countries across six continents. She deeply valued experiencing the world at a local level—seeking out authentic , cultures, and stories wherever she went. She made sure her family understood that there was a whole wide world to explore, nurturing in them a lasting love for learning, cultural appreciation, and the spirit of adventure for generations to come.

For over 40 years, Paula was a faithful and active member of First Baptist Hot Springs, where she served in numerous ministries, including missions, English as a Second Language (ESL), and a wide array of teams and committees. She treasured her church family and found deep friendship and spiritual growth with the members of her beloved The Believers Connect Class.

She will be remembered for her strong faith, her generous heart, her unwavering dedication to others, and her zest for life. Her legacy lives on in the many lives she touched—within her family, her church, her community, and across the world.

Honorary pallbearers are her long time Fairdale Lunch Friends.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 19, 2025 from 10:00-11:00 at Gross Funeral Home Chapel, with a celebration of her life following.

In lieu of flowers and food, the family requests donations be made in her honor to Hanks Rescue at PO Box 22552, Hot Springs, AR 71903 or www.hanksrescue.com.