Sperry

Paula Sperry, 59, of Denver, CO, formerly of Wichita Falls died Friday, September 4, 2009 in Denver. Services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Saturday, September 12, 2009 at Hampton Vaughan Chapel officiated by Reverend Paul Goodrich. Interment will follow at Crestview Memorial Park directed by Hampton Vaughan Funeral Home.

Paula was born April 8, 1950 in Wichita Falls to Bob and Sue Lee Sperry. Paula graduated with honors from Wichita Falls High School in 1968. She then attended TCU in Ft. Worth where she was a member of Alpha Lambda Delta honor society, on the Dean’s list, and graduated in 1972 Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts with University honors and Theater Department honors. She then moved to Colorado and attended the University of Denver where she graduated with a Master’s of Fine Arts degree in 1973. At the time of her death, Paula was finishing work on her dissertation for her PhD. Paula acted in and directed many plays at TCU, Community Theater of Fort Worth, and University of Denver. After graduation from DU she became an assistant professor of theater until 2005. During summer breaks for several years she worked for the Community Theater in Creede, CO. In 2006 she became a tutor coordinator for College Living Experience until her death.

Paula’s dedication to the theater started in her teenage years when she acted, directed, built props, set lights and was a general jack-of-all-trades for the Summer Youth Festivals at First United Methodist Church in Wichita Falls, where she was a member. Paula also had a great love for animals and had adopted several rescue dogs over the last few years.

Paula was preceded in death by her father, Bob Sperry; and grandparents, George and Sadie Lee, Effie and Delbert Gilbert, and Robert Sperry, Sr.; uncle, Dillard Lee; and cousin Dillard Lee, Jr.

Paula is survived by her mother, Sue Sperry; one sister, Robbie Burket and her husband Dennis; two nieces, Kim Childs and her husband Matthew, Amy Wolfe and her husband Casey; two great nieces, Gabby Childs and Aubrie Wolfe; two great-nephews, Braden Childs and Carter Wolfe all of Wichita Falls; cousin Jerry Lee, Sr. and his wife, Jeanette of Henrietta and their children, Jerry Lee, Jr. and his wife, Danelle of Henrietta, and Jennifer Graham and husband, John of Ft. Worth. Paula is also survived by special friends, Leo Lehman, Kathryn Gray, and Stephanie Reineke. The family would like to thank her friends in Colorado for their special care during Paula’s illness.

Pallbearers will be Dennis Burket, Casey Wolfe, Matthew Childs, Jerry Lee, Jerry Lee, Jr., and Jim Hart.

Memorials may be made to Christ Academy of Wichita Falls, TX or the Humane Society Animal Shelter.