Paula Egner, age 73, previous resident of Shelby, passed away at her daughters home in Ontario, Wednesday, February 12, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.
Born December 5, 1951, in Shelby to Marvin D. and Wilma Justine (Staton) Brown, she had been a lifelong Shelby resident. A 1970 graduate of Shelby High School, Paula married the love of her life, Arthur “Art” Egner, on September 25, 1971, and was sealed for eternity in the Columbus, Ohio Temple on October 18, 2003.
Paula had worked as a Lamaze instructor for 14 years at the Shelby Hospital, helping countless women on their birthing and breastfeeding journeys from 1974 to 1988. She then began working for McKenzie Concrete in 1988 and later became Co-Owner; she remained there until her recent retirement on February 2, 2025. Paula had also helped the Barkdull Funeral Home & Crematory as an office administrative assistant from 1991 to 1994.
A devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she served in the primary Sunday school for many years, she was also a member of the I.C.E.A “International ChildBirth Educators Association”, La Leche League, Shelby Gourmet Club, the Farm Bureau, and the American Subcontractor Association, where she served as the past president.
Paula was a great cook and enjoyed preparing meals for her large family at their frequent get-togethers. She published a cookbook and once won first prize for her Chili. Sunday dinners are the cornerstone of the family; a tradition that carried on for decades, and continues to this day. While she may disagree, She was also a skilled seamstress and was always willing to sew for her children and grandchildren, though she despised every second of it. Her biggest labor of love was the notorious car seat ponchos; still being used for years to come. Every aspect of her life was to love and serve her family, spending all her days with her children and grandchildren. Weekly sleepovers at “Grammy’s House” have been the highlight of her 17 grandchildren’s lives. Her backyard pool was the center of family recreation, which has cultivated many competitive swimmers in the family. Paula loved summer, vacations, restaurants, movies, angels, diet Pepsi, chocolate, Snowfall while Christmas shopping, and all things Christmas.
She is survived by her seven children, Matthew (Lisa) Egner, Cheryl (William) Gregory, Braden Egner, Anna (Brent) Smith, Casey (Carrie) Egner, Joan Egner, and Kristen (Luis) Egner; 17 grandchildren, Elizabeth, Trenton, Chase, Mason, Carson, Addison, Peyton, Bryson, Preston, Lillian, Madelyn, Nora, Maxwell, Sloan, Watson, Grey, and Reese; one brother, Mark (Jill) Brown; sister-in-law Marilyn Bates, six nieces, and other relatives.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Art in 1998, and brother David Brown.
Her children recently asked her “If you could go back in time, where would you go, and what would you do?” to which she replied, “I’d go back to Matt’s birth and live it all over again”.
Friends may visit the family Sunday, February 16, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Barkdull Funeral Home & Crematory in Shelby. A funeral service will be held 11:00 AM, Monday at the funeral home. Bishop Matt Parr of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will officiate with interment held in Oakland Cemetery in Shelby.
In place of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Paula’s Volunteer caregiver, Natalie Rossman, who provided a desperately needed respite for Paula’s family.
Online condolences may be made at www.barkdullfuneralhome.com
Funeral Home: Barkdull Funeral Home & Crematory
Website: www.barkdullfuneralhome.com