Paula Maurine Gaines

Paula Maurine Gaines departed this Earth on Saturday, October 15, 2022. She was born March 3, 1955 in Bozeman, MT. Her family soon moved to Berkeley, California where Paula spent most of her childhood, with the exception of two years in Mexico City and summers at her grandparents’ farm on Lummi Island, WA. In Berkeley, she met her BFF, Kate Moody, and together they experienced the full onslaught of the late 60s including picnics in People’s Park and Jefferson Airplane concerts. In 1969 Paula moved with her family to Lummi Island for the remainder of her high school years.

Paula graduated from Ferndale High School in 1973 and attended Washington State University thereafter. She moved to Seattle in 1977 and attended the Caroline Hanson School of Modeling, which launched her lifelong passion for fashion, and make-up artistry in particular. She eventually joined her entrepreneurial cousins Jim and Jay Kent to work for their start up Aussie Woolie as an executive assistant, and she later worked for Liberty Equipment as an office manager and total quality management specialist.

Paula returned to Lummi Island in the 1990s where she met her partner of the past 25 years, Kevin Southworth. There she worked a variety of jobs, earned a certificate in medical transcription, further developed her talents for playing guitar and singing, and studied for and developed a passion and expertise in aromatherapy—starting her small company that was beloved by many, Seaside Aromatherapy. Her salves and treatments were magical and made a difference!

Paula’s adult life was plagued by a variety of health and treatment issues. She ultimately died while in hospice care due to complications of Parkinson’s disease, surrounded by her close family. She was an artistic, warm, and compassionate person who could light up the room with her songs and sense of fun.
She leaves behind her mother, Jacquelyn Gaines of Lummi Island, brother Gary Gaines (Janet Miller) of Naperville, IL, and sister Janice Gaines Walker (Scott) of Bellingham, plus a number of Southworth, Gaines, Walker, and Melcher aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her father, Grant Gaines in 1965.

As she and her beloved Doc Watson sang so many times, “Sweet peace my soul has found.” Paula, we wish you all peace. You are missed and loved.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Lummi Island Fire Department or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.