Paula Elizabeth Alford, 84, of Springfield MO, died November 29, 2018 at the Manor at Elfindale in Springfield Mo.

Paula was born August 22, 1934 to Rev. Paul and Helen Mayfield in Springfield MO. Paula was saved in 1946 at the Galloway Methodist church and baptized in the river at Marshfield by her dad. Raised in small towns around the Rogersville area, she graduated in 1952 from Ava High School. The move to Ava from Niangua in her senior year, due to her parents moving there to pastor the Methodist Church, was not popular with Paula and her Niangua boyfriend. Paula married Bob Alford on August 15, 1953 in the Ava Methodist Church with her dad officiating.

When Bob returned from Korea in 1955, they moved to Springfield where they raised four children. Paula worked at CoxHealth as the Admissions Director for over 30 years and retired from there in 2001. Paula was active in school activities with her kids, was a girl scout leader, worked the polls at election time and made every holiday special and fun for her family. Christmas was her favorite time of year, she also loved having backyard luaus for family birthday. Her specialty, and most requested meal, especially from her husband, was homemade cashew chicken.

Paula was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Helen Mayfield, her husband Bob, a son, Randy and her brother Gordan Mayfield.

Paula is survived by daughters, Jennifer (Rod) Hoover of Springfield, Lisa (Kevin) Hight of Springfield and a son, Chris Alford, Rogersville. Five granddaughters, Ashley (Ryan) Schuette, Haley (Nathaniel) Gillespie, Adrienne (Scott) Mark, Kaitlyn Alford, and Christin Alford, and one grandson, Hayden Hight. Nine great-grandchildren; Deonta and Cierah Warren, Boone, Georgia and Caroline Schuette, Emma and Jack Gillespie, and Sutton and Campbell Mark. One niece, Marybeth Breshears, and special friend, Teresa Benson.

A funeral service will be held Monday, December 3, 2018 at 10:00 A.M. in Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel, with the Reverend Ken Robinson, officiating. Burial will follow in Hazelwood Cemetery.