Paula Jo (Bauldry) Gray of Albert Lea passed away February 21, 2024, at age 74. A celebration of life will be held Tuesday, May 14, 2024, from 11 AM to 1 PM at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home in Albert Lea.

Paula Jo Gray

Paula was born October 6, 1949, in Iowa Falls, Iowa to Cleo and Lenore Bauldry, later moving as a child with her family to a farm by Hayward, Minnesota. She graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1967. From there, she began her life in customer service in a variety of positions, helping others and giving unsolicited advice, which was her expertise. Her sassy one-liners were a favorite. She was rough around the edges, but tender on the inside. She did things her way. Paula made friends everywhere she went, even standing in line somewhere. She loved her winters in Arizona with Tom. She loved to dance, flowers, birds, chocolate, garage sales, Casa Zamora, and the Supremes. Always referred to herself as a “fly by the seat of my pants” sort of girl. She’s probably looking for a party right now. She will be missed – God’s got his hands full.

Paula is survived by her special friend, Tom Neyers; son, Todd Goskeson of Albert lea; daughter, Tina Friest; granddaughter Aaliyah Gray and her children, Amirah and Ky’mahni; grandsons, Jesse Friest & Logan Friest all of Charles City, Iowa; sister, Gail (Bob) Ferguson; niece, Patience (Josh) Ceniga, and their children Cody (Giselle) Ceniga; Easton Ceniga; and Chase Ceniga of Bend, Oregon; nephews Heath (Andrea) Bauldry and their daughter Liliana Bauldry of Mesa, Arizona and Kip Bauldry and his children Jade and Izzy of New Richland, Minnesota; many cousins and friends.

She is preceded in death by her daughter, Jane Marnholtz; parents, Cleo and Lenore (Jean) Bauldry; brother Gary (Sharon) Bauldry; grandparents Art and Helen Jean; cousins Chuck Jean, Mike Jean, Charlie Runkle; aunts and uncles, Red and Marlys Jean, Tom and Pat Nelson, Clint and Jeanette Hanson.