Paula Kaye Barber passed away on Dec. 19, 2025. Paula was born on Aug. 17, 1942, in Shawnee, OK, to Nelson and Betty Greene. She married Charles “Chuck” Barber on June 17, 1961, at New Hope Baptist Church.
When the pair retired in 1996, they embarked on one of their greatest adventures: they sold all of their belongings, bought a 42-foot catamaran sailboat, and sailed around the Caribbean and Central America with Chuck’s sister, Beverly, aka “Sissy,” and his brother-in-law, Charlie. After their great adventure, Paula and her family settled in Shawnee, Oklahoma and opened Benedict Street Marketplace. They were known for their excellent customer service and great food.
Paula was preceded in death by her parents, Nelson and Betty Greene, her husband, Chuck Barber, and her son, Greg Barber.
Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Rebecca Stapleton and husband Tad, her son, Michael “Mike” Barber and wife Devra, grandchildren, Jessika Mullendore, Jakob Neal, Haleigh Rasch, Emily Rios, Jonathan Stapleton, Henry Stapleton, Jack Stapleton, Jane Stapleton, Kalyn Davis, Mikala Barber, Jennifer Magness, William Barber, and Courtney Schwiebert, sister- in-law, Beverly “Sissy” Whittle, and many great-grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Dec. 29, 2025 at 10 am at St. Benedict Catholic Church. Following the ceremony, Paula will be laid to rest at Calvary Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made in her honor to Project Gabriel. Please make checks payable to St. Benedict Church (with ‘Project Gabriel’ in the memo), 632 N. Kickapoo Ave., Shawnee, OK 74801.
