Pauline Lenore Buckley

Life on a farm seemed a remote
possibility to Paula, growing up as a city
girl, and yet that is where she spent
almost 65 years. Paula passed away
peacefully at the family farm on
November 3, 2011 surrounded
by her family.
Paula, the oldest of four
children, was born in Council
Bluffs, Iowa on August 31, 1924 to
Josephine C. Gasperi and Ernest L.
Woolsey. Paula graduated from high
school then attended Lenore Benolken
Art School and the University of Omaha.
She majored in art and merchandising
then became an advertising manager for a large
store in Southwestern Iowa. Her work included layouts and copywriting
for advertisements in various newspapers and magazines. She also covered
publicity for the War Bond shows that toured the United States during the
war years. Paula met Donald Buckley when he was in the Midwest with
his B-17 crew before Don and his crew flew off to England.
After World War II, Paula lived in Portland, Oregon, with an aunt and
uncle. She worked at advertising agencies writing advertising copy and
scripts for radio shows. Don and Paula were married in St. Francis Church
in Council Bluffs, Iowa on May 3, 1947. She moved to the family farm in
Lowden and there they raised their six children in the same house in
which Don lived as a child.
Paula was a gifted artist, who painted watercolors and acrylics of the
landscapes surrounding the family farm. Her artwork adorns the walls in
the homes of family and friends. In recent years, Paula’s favorite pastimes
were spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Paula loved swimming, golf, reading and in earlier days bowling and
sewing. She was a 4-H leader for 20 years, a charter bridge club member
of Lo-Wa-To for 40 years and a member of the Lowden Study Club. Paula
was a member of PEO Chapter AD, YMCA, YWCA, Walla Walla Country
Club (Lifetime Member) and Lady Elks.
She and Don loved to travel and made many exciting trips abroad.
Her keen eye for art led to the acquisition of artwork from many of the
countries that they visited.
Her mother, Josephine; her father, Ernest; her brother Ernest and
loving husband of 61 years, Donald, preceded her in death. Paula is
survived by her sister, Patricia Meier of Omaha, Nebraska, and her brother
Lawrence Woolsey of Vancouver, Washington; her children, Pamela (Dan
Mildon) of Kennewick, Melinda of Seattle, Camille (P. J. De Benedetti) of
Moses Lake, Gregory (Cindy) of Lowden, Michael (Sandy) of Walla Walla
and Madeline of Lowden. She leaves behind 11 grandchildren, Melissa
Grytdal, Stephanie Cossalman, Douglas Mildon, John De Benedetti, Nick
De Benedetti, Lucas Buckley, Jula Brown, Kayla Buckley, Alexis Buckley,
Alyson Buckley and Bryce Buckley and three great grandchildren, Petra
Cossalman, James Mildon and Aylen Garnett and numerous nieces and
nephews. Paula is also survived by close friend Angela Williams.
Viewing and visitation will be held at Herring Groseclose Funeral
Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla, WA from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011. The funeral will be held Thursday,
November 10, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at Herring Groseclose Funeral Home.
The interment will follow at Mt. View Cemetery. Paula’s family would like
to thank Bruce Barga, MD, Adventist Health Home Care Services as well
as Walla Walla Community Hospice for the excellent care of their mother.
The family requests that donations in her name be made to Walla Walla
Community Hospice or donor’s choice through Herring Groseclose Funeral
Home.