Paula Dee Briggs

Paula was born in Salinas, California on August 20, 1939, the second child of Paul and Edith Hensley. She spent her childhood, along with her 3 siblings, Porta Lee, Ted and Joe, in Arkansas, California and Arizona. The family finally settled in Glendale AZ on a small 2-acre farm. As a young girl, she loved school particularly reading, music and athletics.

In her sophomore year of high school she met the love of her life, Kent Briggs. They married in 1957 and were baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1959. They raised their family of 5 in Phoenix and Glendale and later retired to Prescott, AZ. She was a devoted daughter, a Northern Arizona University graduate (summa cum laude), a loving and loyal wife for 68 years, extraordinary mother to 5 children, fantastic cook, talented teacher, proud grandmother and great grandmother and a humble, faithful and dedicated member of the LDS church.

She served a mission with Kent in Rome, Italy that was life changing and amplified her faith and her love of people. She passed on her love of learning and exploring the world to all of her children. She had a passionate love of Italian gelato, fresh baked bread, and pretty much any kind of homemade sweets.

She will be dearly missed by her children, Marlo Flinn (w/Tom Flinn), Leslie Farrer (w/Kevan Farrer), Paul Briggs (w/Shonna Briggs), Brigham Briggs (w/Cindy Briggs), and Will Briggs (w/Melissa Briggs) as well as her 18 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

Her most enduring lesson for her children was to always do your duty, give your best, invest yourself, give it everything you’ve got and make something amazing out of your life. And never lose the ability to laugh at yourself, if you can’t you’re doomed.

She is survived by her husband of almost 68 years, Kent Briggs whom she called her choicest blessing and wrote, “It is so comforting to hear his voice calling, “Paula?” I want to hear that forever.” We know she will.

Our family would like to offer special thanks to Hospice of the Valley for the care they gave Paula during her last days. It meant so much to us. In lieu of flowers we would ask that you contribute generously to the SMILE TRAIN, a charity that they supported for many years.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 2nd, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 23121 North 67th Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85310.