Paula Haskett

Welcome and Opening - Pastor Chris Baker

Good Morning. I would like to welcome everyone here today as we have gathered to remember… to honor… and to celebrate the life and legacy of Paula Haskett.

As we begin this morning, I would like to invite everyone to bow their heads with me and pray.

Thank you for the gift of Paula Haskett.

Thank you for her example, her joy, and her faith.

Send Your Spirit to comfort grieving hearts, surround us with Your love and peace.

Be with the family and friends as we walk through this difficult time together.

Fill this place with Your Spirit and love as we remember our dear, sweet sister in the Lord.

Paula was one of the most amazing people I have ever met… and had the honor to work with in ministry. And by the looks of it today… Paula clearly had touched the lives of countless people.

For some, she was family… a loving wife, a caring mother. A grandma (Nana) who, if I had to guess, more than spoiled her grandchildren. She was an aunt, a sister… someone we laughed with, cried with, talked about Jesus with, and grew up together with.

For friends, it means losing a coworker, a neighbor, someone who gave… and then gave some more. Maybe you rubbed shoulders with her in the school somewhere, or sat under her teaching right here at the church, or had the opportunity to sample some of her cooking at a fellowship gathering of some sort. Whatever the case, she was there… always smiling… and never once complaining.

No matter how it was you knew her, there were a few details regarding her life that no one would miss.

One… Paula LOVED Jesus… and I mean she REALLY LOVED JESUS!

Paula loved to worship, she loved to talk about the Lord… and she loved to teach children about the love of Christ.

She loved to work with groups like BGMC to teach kids about world mission’s and she LOVED a good BGMC challenge… be it dying my hair green, or dumping a bucket of slime over my head… or having a pie smeared in Larry Stones’ face.

Two… she loved her family. She would talk about her kids, and she would get excited when her grandchildren were either here or on the way! I mean jump in the foyer excited! And… she loved her husband. She would tell stories or share memories and her face would light up as she did. Her love for her family was truly amazing.

And three… she loved to serve. Paula would do anything and everything to serve. Even in her last several weeks, Paula was at the church giving all she had to give to make sure kiddos had the chance to know Jesus.

Paula paid attention to… the little things… to the small details that can mean so much. Details like never missing a birthday. She would send a card in the mail that contained… a balloon. Something small, but something that could brighten up a day or make you smile. That’s why… in her honor… we will have baskets of balloons for everyone to enjoy at the end of service.

She served well. And I have no doubt… that upon her entrance into heaven after she took her last breath here on earth she heard the words come from our Lord and Savior… “Well done. Well done my good and faithful servant.”

Paula was loved by all… because of her love for all. And she will be greatly missed. And in this time of grief I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is rejoicing in heaven right now in the presence of our God. And in this moment… I would like to invite all of us today to do the same.

Kiddos, I’m gonna need your help. We have a song ready… a song that Paula would sing and a song that the family would like us to sing together.

The kids are going to help us as we say thank you to God for the gift of Paula Haskett. (START MUSIC ON CUE. WILL WAIT FOR KIDS TO COME)

Kid’s Song

Good God Almighty - YouTube - Crowder

Reading of the Obituary - Pastor Chris Baker

Paula Jean Haskett went home to be with Jesus on April 14, 2022, at the age of 59.  Paula was born on June 6, 1962 to Sterling and Pauline Bagby, and from the very beginning, her life was an adventure; arriving six weeks early, the doctor gave Sterling the decision to save baby Paula, or Pauline. Instead of choosing, Sterling insisted that the doctor “go save them both!”; in that moment, the incredible spark in her soul was ignited. Paula adored growing up with her two older brothers Steve and Bob in the family home that was directly above the drive-in theatre in Stockton, KS. A few years later, on her 19th birthday, Paula married the love of her life, Nick Haskett.  From this union they birthed two children, Eli and Nicole. Years later, due to God’s providence and their overflowing love, they took in and adopted their young niece Sammie, whom they raised and cherished as their own.

Nick and Paula’s home was a community hub for the kids, their classmates, friends, extended family or anyone who needed a safe place to land.  The house was always full of a crowd, and often included people they barely knew. And of course, everyone was always welcome at their table for the best home cooking they’d ever had.

Throughout the years, Paula became a staple in the community. She owned and operated the Majestic Theatre in Phillipsburg for over fourteen years, where she was known for holding New Years Eve movie parties and designing movie-themed parade floats. She also dove head-first into many other activities, including a fourteen-year-long season as Boy Scout Master. Paula’s church involvement was broad, impactful, and always held her greatest devotion: She served as the Sunday School Superintendent at Pleasant Green Assembly of God, and helped pioneer the Wednesday night Missionettes program that continues to this day at Heartland Worship Center. After her career with the theatre, Paula became a school bus driver, and later a Para professional. All of this, while her ministry continued as Children’s Pastor at Heartland Worship Center, relentlessly loving kids and creating young leaders. She enjoyed “her kids” in every role she fulfilled, whether on the bus, in the classroom, or at church.  When Halloween came around, you would find Paula dressed up as a hippie, mime, backwoods country hillbilly, or even a mad scientist running the halls of the school. She would do anything to give the kids a happy day.

A true world changer in every season of her life, Paula poured love into the lives of everyone around her. In her eyes, each person she met and every job that she held was another opportunity to care about someone. A life coach by nature, she tutored countless youth to help them reach their goals; whether it was with Boy Scouts, earning a high school diploma, or cultivating a passion for children’s ministry, Paula diligently worked with her own kids, and countless others in the community, through all their achievements.  Everyone who knew Paula quickly realized how she always believed in their potential, and greatness…often before they believed in it for themselves.

Paula had an authentic and uniquely personal relationship with everyone. She loved her friends, co-workers, church kids, nieces & nephews, siblings, and in-laws, all were special to her.  But a new kind of love was sparked in her heart once she became a Nana; her greatest joys in life were her grandkids – Avalee, Paelyn, Emmie, Levi, Ryker, Everly, Cole (aka “George”), and Henry.  Moments with them were precious to her, and she used every opportunity she had to lavish them with love and care. Given the option, each grandchild would gladly have chosen to live with Nana and Pops, full-time.

Having never met a stranger, Paula’s vibrant presence in every room and her endlessly-giving heart made it clear to everyone that she was special, earning her the title of “Aunt Paula” to many. A genuine, passionate love for Jesus, and the joy that comes from having a relationship with Him, were a continuous flow out of her heart. Even after her cancer diagnosis, Paula’s unshakeable faith defined her, as she resolutely accepted any and every possible outcome with peace, and confidence in Him. True to her nature, in the moment Paula learned that her cancer was no longer treatable, she bravely announced to the room “well, off to the next adventure”.  She knew that if her time on earth was short, she was closer than ever to her heavenly home. It was that relentless, Jesus-driven optimism during her battle with cancer that made her last months so remarkable; and in the truest example of a husband’s love, the way Nick walked hand-in-hand with Paula through every step of their journey was an inspiration to their family, and to everyone who witnessed it.

Never wanting to give up on her goals, Paula diligently carved out time during her years of treatment to complete her college degree, just weeks before her promotion to heaven. Paula Haskett lived life with an intense spark, uncontainable joy and overflowing regard for others, to her last day. Those who loved her can honor her best by spreading kindness and loving the way she did…just like Jesus.

Paula’s survivors include husband Nick Haskett; children Eli and Melody Haskett, Sammie and JD Washington, Nicole and Nathan Spar; eight grandchildren; brother Bob and wife Bridget Bagby, as well as brother Steve and wife LeAnn Bagby; many nieces and nephews, and countless others she touched in this life.

Paula was a devoted follower of Christ… an amazing member of our church family and community… and an unbelievable care giver to her family. We love you, Paula, and we can’t wait to see you again on the other side!

Message - Pastor JD Washington

Possible video and pictures of Paula during the message

Music - LeAnn Leidig and Stacey McCoy

O Praise the Name

I’ll Fly Away

Benediction and Meal Directions - Pastor JD Washington