Paula Kay Lewis, 56, of rural Arcadia entered into the presence of the Most High God at 7:45 p.m. on Saturday, December 3, 2022, with her mother by her side.
Paula’s wishes were to be cremated. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 9, 2022; at the Arcadia Methodist Church. Pastor Ray Berry will officiate. To honor Paula’s wishes she would like memorials directed to Heartland Youth Ranch of Ord in lieu of flowers arrangements. Ord Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Copies of Paula’s book “He is Pursuing You/Stop Questioning Your Faith”, are available on line from WestBow Press.
Paula was born at Ord, Nebraska to Darrel and Shirley (Bretz) McKinney on July 26, 1966. Paula, brother Tom, and sister Gwenda grew up on Nine Mile Avenue in Arcadia. She was a farm girl to the very end. Even on her worst days, she “felt better” if she was on her four wheeler helping neighbors move cattle.
Early school days were at Pleasant Valley; she graduated from Arcadia High school, and then earned her degree in commercial art from Kearney State College in 1989. In 2010, she received an associate degree (with high honors) in AutoCAD design from ITT in Omaha.
On July 29, 1995, she gave birth to Denisha Shamara McKinney, who died of SIDS on November 20, 1995. In 1998, she married Tony Lewis.
Her last job was at Northern Natural Gas Pipeline in Omaha. Earlier job placings were as a CNA in Kearney and Omaha. She used her commercial art training at Hobby Lobby. She was a perfectionist in everything she did.
In 2017, when she began her cancer journey, she returned to the family farm and became involved in the community she loved. Her passion for kids and horses was fulfilled by helping with the Riot Squad at Faith Bible Church in Arcadia and Heartland Youth Ranch southeast of Ord. As gifts to the kids in these two groups, she published a book in 2020, “Because He Chose You, You Are Worthy.” It is full of photographs and inspiring quotations.
Photography she entered at a Comstock art gallery competition netted a major award and led to membership in Vissi d’Arte Club. Her photographs have gone to ANAC state conference. Her framing know-how was an asset to the club and her loan of a wagon was most helpful to the 2022 ANAC state conference. She also proof-read the conference program—no small undertaking. During the writing of her book, “He Is Pursuing You/Stop Questioning Your Faith”, she joined the Thesauarean writing group and enjoyed the fellowship of fellow writers. The group’s latest chapbook, “Changes,” contains her cancer story and her photo of the Middle Loup River is the cover.
Nothing she did was done without pain. In September, 2021, she joined a group which visited the Ark and Creation Museum in Kentucky and the passion play in Branson, Missouri. She worked through hard days writing, then fine-toothing copy for her second book which was released shortly before her death. In complete transparency, it recounts all the valleys she had to walk through and was written to help others who are struggling with relationships, brokenness, loneliness, and faith; especially faith. She was a victor to the very end. She loved quotations; her books are full of them. Here’s one that pretty much exemplifies her life: “And they overcame him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb [Jesus]; and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death” (Revelation 12:11).
Paula is survived by her mother, Shirley McKinney of Hastings; her sister and brother-in-law, Gwenda and Mark Horky of Sargent, whose children are Teal Smith and her husband, Steve of Hastings and their sons, Slade of Lincoln and Oaklyn of Hastings; Chase & Jody Horky, daughter, Nicklynn, of Sargent, Ridge & Kalli Horky, daughters, Breckny & Bexley, of Arcadia; her brother, Tom and his wife, Michel of Juniata and their children, Cori and Trent Kobbeman of Hastings, Amy McKinney of Kearney, and Tamaka and husband, Dan Gangwish of Juniata, whose children are Jenssen, Rowan, Rory, Jace, Maverick, and Nellie, Brent & Kim McKinney, children, Ella, Emily, Aaron and Cora, of Juniata.
Paula was preceded in death by her father, Darrel; her daughter, Denisha; and nephew, Ryan Franzen.
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