Paula Dean Gilbert, 96, of Bossier City, Louisiana passed away peacefully on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021. Paula was the second born of five children to Chester and Kattie Welborn in rural McKinney, TX. During the 30’s, the family moved to Princeton, TX, where Paula played basketball and graduated from Princeton High in 1942. While living in Princeton, she met and married her first two husbands, Duard Lawson and W.T. Hooten, III, who both died tragically in accidents.
Later while working in Texas, she met and married Bob Gilbert, who was in the military. During his career, they resided in New York, New Mexico, Louisiana, Japan; finally settling in Bossier City, LA. Most of her working career Paula was a salesperson in ladies apparel at The Fashion in Shreveport and took the summers off to enjoy vacations and swimming with her children. Paula like gardening, sewing, fishing and working crossword puzzles. She was also known to visit the casinos occasionally. To her children, grandchildren and their friends, she was known as “Nanaw”.
Mrs. Gilbert was predeceased by her four siblings and parents; her husband, Robert Lee Gilbert; daughter, Vickie Lynn Gilbert; granddaughter, Cindi Smith; and grandson, Bubba Givens.
Left to cherish her memory are her children, Kay (Hooten) Gilbert, Robert Keith Gilbert, Pam Wright (Randy) and Suzanne West (Bill); grandchildren, Tonya Minard (Craig), Hunter Bullard, Darrell Givens (Tiffany), Jarred Bullard (Karen) and Melissa Bullard; and fifteen great grandchildren.
Services celebrating the life of Paula Gilbert will be held Sunday, April 11, 2021 at Hill Crest Memorial Funeral Home. Visitation with family and friends beginning at 1:30 p.m. until the service begins at 2:30 p.m. Interment will immediately follow at Hill Crest Memorial Park.
Pallbearers will be Hunter Bullard, Jarred Bullard, Darrell Givens, Billy West, Craig Minard and Anthony McClain.
The family would like to thank Pilgrim Manor, especially Keisha Denkins and Sharon Moore as well as Amber with Southern Care Hospice for the kindness and care they have shown our mother.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Heart Association, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation or the Alzheimer’s Association.
