Paula Lee Davis

Paula Lee Davis, formerly of Lubbock, died February 26 in Austin. She was born Paula Lee Hazel June 8, 1928, in Fort Worth, Texas. She was the daughter of Robert Lee and Pauline Whatley Hazel, who preceded her in death.

As a child, Paula won the Miss Shirley Temple contest in El Paso, resulting in an extraordinary opportunity to travel to Hollywood, where she acted in several movies, including a few of the “Our Gang” comedies. She graduated with a teaching degree from Hardin-Simmons University, where she was elected cheerleader.

She met Bill A. Davis in college, and the couple was married June 24, 1949, in Abilene. They moved to Lubbock in 1952. As her husband’s law career developed, Paula decided to build their growing family a new home. That experience blossomed into her own business, Homes by Paula. She was one of the first women homebuilders in West Texas, and went on to develop neighborhoods such as Bender Terrace during the 1960's and 1970's.

She moved to Austin in 1991 to help care for her grandsons, and later owned a Stride Rite children’s shoe store. She went on to sell children’s shoes in both Dillards and Nordstrom, where she retired at the tender age of 80.

She was preceded in death by her husband. She is survived by her daughter, Paula Lanehart of Lubbock and her husband Chuck, by her son Gregg Davis of Austin, by her granddaughter Lindsey Craig and her husband Rob of Lubbock, and by grandsons Christopher Davis and Michael Davis, both of Austin.

Graveside services will be at 2 pm, on Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at Resthaven Memorial Park under the direction of Resthaven Funeral Home.

The family suggests memorials to Hospice of Lubbock. Condolences may be offered at www.resthavenfuneralhome.com