Paula Marie Magarian

Paula Marie Magarian, age 63 of Norman went to be with the Lord on July 9, 2020.  She was born in Jackson, Mississippi on September 25, 1956 to Robert A. and Charmaine V. Magarian.

Paula moved to Norman in 1970 from St. Louis with her parents where her father joined the OU College of Pharmacy faculty. She received most of her elementary education in Lawrence, Kansas and in St. Louis. She attended Norman High and was graduated in 1974; attended OU College of Business, earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting; worked at both OU Health Sciences and Norman campuses, and for eighteen years was the Chief Financial Officer at the Norman YMCA.  

Paula was a blessing to her family and will be sorely missed but they will forever remember her infectious smile and laugh, her kindness and love for others. She touched so many lives with her caring heart, her sense of humor and her ability to always see the good in everyone. She was one of the Charter Members, and a longtime member of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Norman. God placed in her heart to take the lead in SOAR, a singles ministry that reached out to those in the church. Paula, along with her family, started the Norman Christmas Day Community Dinner in 1987. She loved dishing out those pies. Another one of her favorite projects was taking charge of her 1974 Norman High Class reunions, which she cherished for many years. Paula was a dedicated OU Sooners fan and loved the Norman music scene.

She was preceded in death by her brother Robert D. (Bob) Magarian. She is survived by her parents, her son David Blanton and wife Megan and grandson Owen of Yukon; sister Cindy Weisberg and husband Scott of Owasso, and nieces Lexi and her sister Spencer Weisberg; sister Leslie Holtzclaw and husband Kris of Norman; sister-in-law, Angela Magarian; niece Natalie Stephens and grandniece Blakely Ann Stephens of Norman; uncle Ed and aunt Sandy Magarian of West Fargo, ND; uncle Tony and aunt Jeanie Ortiz of East St. Louis, IL; uncle Bobby Kugler and wife Sharon of Granite City, IL; Cousins – Melanie Lodes and husband Dan of St. Louis, Julie Goddard and husband Stan of St. Louis; Gary Apoian and wife Linda of Chesterfield, MO;  Lupe Waldrup and husband Scott of Mascoutah, IL; Tony Ortiz, Jr of Cahokia, IL; Tina Smith and husband Kenny of Cahokia, IL; Theresa Merritt and husband Charlie of Cahokia, IL; Edward B. Magarian and wife Donna of Minneapolis, MN; Kevin Magarian and wife Mary of West Fargo, ND; Tim Magarian and wife Tracie of Sartell, MN; and nephew David Roberts and wife Renee and son Keiler of Ballwin, MO; nieces Sydney and Isabella Roberts of Ft. Collins, CO; Chuck Freude and wife Hong and Tuyet of Norman, and her dear friend Nancy Daniel of Blanchard.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Monday, July 13, 2020, at Havenbrook Funeral Home in Norman.  Due to the COVID-19 virus, a private funeral ceremony requiring face masks will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 14, 2020.  The service will be live-streamed at the link below.  A graveside service will follow at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Norman.  At a later date, there will be an open memorial gathering for friends and family to celebrate Paula's life.

In lieu of flowers, Paula would be greatly honored by a donation to Second Chance Animal Sanctuary.  She loved animals and had two dogs, Oscar and Taz, which she loved so much.