Paulinia Lou Shearer, 93, Columbus, died Sunday, November 23, 2025 at Quaker Hill Skilled Nursing Home near Baxter Springs.
Born May 31, 1932 in rural Cherokee County, Paulinia was the daughter of Ralph Roten and Bessie Pauline (Holly) Roten. She graduated from Cherokee County Rural High School in 1949. She then attended Kansas Teachers College for three years and started teaching in one room school houses until 1960.
She was united in marriage to Audie Hugh Shearer May 1, 1955 in Melrose. She spent time as a homemaker loving and caring for her family until she went back to work in February 1986 at Walmart and retired 29 years later when Walmart closed the doors in Baxter Springs. She attended Pleasant Hill Baptist Church for many years. Her favorite things to do were to spend time with her family and taking care of her flowers.
Paulinia was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Bessie Roten; husband Audie Hugh Shearer; brother, Bill Roten.
Survivors include daughter, Ann Banzet (Brett) of Columbus; two sons, John Shearer and Mark Shearer of Columbus; brother, Albert Roten (Jean) of Fort Worth, Texas; niece, Dr. Lisa Roten; nephew, David Roten; grandchildren, Brock Banzet, BreAnda Collins (Chandler); great grandchildren, Mylee Mooney, and Maxtyn Collins.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, December 1 at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church near Melrose. Pastor Walter Keener will officiate. Burial will follow in the Greenlawn Cemetery. Family will receive friends Sunday, November 30, from 6 p.m.- 8 p.m., at Derfelt’s Baxter Chapel. Pallbearers for the service are Brock Banzet, Chandler Collins, Robert Keith, Randy Hale, Tom Davis, and Clayton Davis; honorary pallbearer is Maxtyn Collins.