Paula (McGraw) Burns, died in Dallas, Texas on September 7, 2025, at 79.

She was born on December 21, 1945, in Long Beach, California, to Paul and Louise McGraw, both from Alabama. Paula grew up in Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul, and graduated from Central High School, St. Paul, with honors and spoke fluent Spanish. She later moved to Milwaukee and Kalamazoo where she worked for Dr. George Mallinson, Dean of the Graduate College of Western Michigan University, becoming lifelong friends with George and Jackie. Paula subsequently attended the University of Wisconsin.

Paula returned to St. Paul and married former Marine, Roger Burns in 1967, and they had two children, Stacey Lynn, born in 1968, and Kevin Douglas born in 1972. In 1972, Roger joined the Air Force, and Paula subsequently helped support the family through multiple assignments, including Sacramento, CA, Sault Ste. Marie, MI, Riverside, CA and Omaha, NE before divorcing in 1984. Paula, ever the realist, picked up the pieces, moved to Dallas, Texas, where her parents lived, raised her two children and created a successful word processing and transcription business in Texas and Minnesota, due to an enormous work ethic, a simple "begin" philosophy in order to make it through any and all tasks, and possessed superb writing skills, before retiring in 2019. In 1987, Paula met and later married Vic, and they traveled throughout the US and dozens of countries and could not have been more in love, during their 30+ years together.

Paula was an aficionado of great fiction, having read thousands of books and had a great memory for authors. None of those authors was more respected by Paula than Jane Austen with Pride and Prejudice being the only book she read multiple times. Paula created book clubs wherever she lived and passed that love of reading to her children. She had a sense of humor, was also a great original cook and had a special ability to create unique meals from leftovers. As her son Kevin joked, "My mom is the leftover queen, just give her an old sock and some beef jerky and the next thing you know you have a complete roast beef dinner."

Paula leaves behind many long-time friends, including best friends: Nancy (Mackey) Ooley of Woodbury, Minnesota, Terry Sefcik-Chellen of Minneapolis, Barb Springfield of Plano, Texas, and Carol and Jerry Jordan, of Aurora, Colorado.

Paula is survived by her daughter, Stacey; son-in-law, Dr. Jason McGrath, of Minneapolis; her husband, Vic; brother, Warren Douglas McGraw of Chicago; and sister, Jane Drumheller of Ithaca, New York. Paula is preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Louise McGraw and her son Kevin.

A private memorial was held in St. Paul on June 27, 2026, allowing many friends and relatives to attend. Memorial contributions on behalf of Paula Burns can be made to any of the following charities that Paula supported: Dallas Scottish Rite for Children; Shrinerschildrens.org; PetSmart Charities; Animal Welfare Institute; Humane Farming Association; Pollinator Partnership; David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust; American Humane Society or Wildlife Conservation Society.