Mary Alyce Paulson of Tulsa, Oklahoma, passed into the loving arms of Jesus, her Lord and Savior, June 13th, 2024, at the age of 84.

Mary was one of four children born to Lawrence and Pearl Leervig in Fosston, Minnesota. She graduated from Fosston High School in 1957 and earned a BS degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, where she met and later married the love of her life, Bruce Paulson. The couple had a family of four children: Son, David, and daughters Laura, Sara, and Rachel, along with 7 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, brother Lawrence Leervig and sisters Doris Leervig and Judy Nielsen.

Mary was a teacher for 20 years. She loved her students and was dedicated to their learning. She and her husband, Bruce, taught 17 years at City Christian Schools in Portland, Oregon. Upon retirement, they served as tutors at a church-sponsored school in Nashville, Tennessee.

Bruce and Mary enjoyed travel and made trips to the Hawaiian Islands and 16 foreign countries as well as to all 50 states and Canada. Mary's favorite trip was to China where she and Bruce along with their daughter, Sara, were able to smuggle more than 300 Bibles across the border. Walking where Jesus walked in Israel was very meaningful as well.

A highlight of Mary's life was cuddling babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of St. Francis Hospital. For several months, she and Bruce held babies and prayed and sang over them, following the admonishment of Jesus to bless the little children.

Mary's strong faith and the love of her husband and children is a testimony to God's faithfulness throughout her life. She was dedicated to spreading the love of Jesus through evangelism and ministry to others. She led women's Bible studies for 7 years. Mary and Bruce were speakers at retreats and churches on the subject of the Christian family and were involved in much marriage counseling. They hosted prayer meetings in their home for several years where many were saved and filled with the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 13:5-6 exemplifies Mary's life: "I trust in your unfailing love, my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord for He has been good to me." Mary leaves a heritage of those who love God and fear His name, Ps. 61:5. "To God be the glory!"

SOLI DEO GLORIA