Paul Lynn Rawlins

On January 13, 2022, Paul Lynn Rawlins-cherished husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather-passed away at age 88 in Henderson, Nevada. Lynn was born on May 8, 1933 in Logan, Utah to parents William Rawlins and Lucille James Rawlins. He grew up on farms in Clifton, Idaho and Nampa, Idaho, where he attended school, worked on the family farm and spent any free time playing sports. Lynn was a natural athlete and an especially talented pitcher. Upon his (sometimes late) arrival to many games, the team would sigh with relief and say, “ Lynn’s here! Everything is going to be alright!” Lynn loved sports so much that he picked up boxing in High School when he no longer had time for team sports due to his responsibilities on the family farm.

At age 19, he enlisted in the Navy and spent 4 years as a radio operator on a destroyer during the Korean War. During his time in the Navy, Lynn discovered a new interest-riding motorcycles. His wife, Karen, remembers Lynn picking her up for dates on his motorcycle, wearing a red beanie. She would say to her mom, “ Isn’t he just so cute?” In 1959, he married his eternal sweetheart, Karen Faye James, and in 1962 they were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. They welcomed 4 children during the following 12 years-Deanna, Kris, Mike and Jeff.

Lynn graduated from Idaho State University in 1968 and spent most of the next 30 years in Southern California as an auditor for the US Treasury Department. Lynn always worked hard to provide for and support his family. His kids remember him leaving for work at 5 AM, working all day, facing LA traffic on his way home, and still making it to cheer them on in every church, school, and sporting event.

Lynn was loved so much by all and is remembered as being selfless, supportive, hard-working, kind, fun and witty. He had the best sense of humor and contagious laugh. His mom told stories of Lynn taking his sister, JaNeen, to matinees at the theater and always being able to find exactly where they were because you could hear his laugh from any distance.

If Lynn wasn’t playing sports himself or watching his favorite teams, he was coaching his children, and grandchildren and playing catch with them in the backyard. He was the pied piper of his grandkids and made each one feel like they were his favorite. He was as equally supportive of his great grandchildren, and would often sit in his favorite chair in the family room, saying their names aloud to ensure that he remembered all 20 of them.

Lynn is survived by his wife, Karen Rawlins, children Deanna (Richard) Pedersen, Kris (Dan) Andersen, Mike (Susan) Rawlins, and Jeff (Holli) Rawlins, 19 grandchildren, and 20 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents Bill and Lucille Rawlins, brothers Robert W. and D. Blaine Rawlins, and sister JaNeen Budge.

Lynn’s number one priority in life was his family. We know he is cheering us on and watching over us from heaven. We love him and will miss him so much!