Paula Charlene Harkreader

Paula Charlene Childress Harkreader was the eldest child born August 10, 1939 to Sam and Roberta Childress in Freeport, TX. Known professionally as Paula, family and long time friends knew her simply as Charlene.

Charlene married James Everett Harkreader on October 13, 1961. They had four sons. Jim, Charlene, and the boys lived mostly in Texas, but traveled and worked widely throughout the United States.

Charlene was an active wife and mother while her children were young, working as a room mother at school and leading Scout troops for her boys when they were young. In 1973, she went to work as a teacher's aide at Chickaming Elementary School in Three Oaks, Michigan. She enjoyed the work so much that, upon the family's return to Brazoria County in 1976, she went to work for Operation Head Start in Angleton, Texas, which was a tiny, new organization at that time. "Ms. Paula" worked tirelessly, becoming instrumental in the growth and administration of the program, helping thousands of children and families in the surrounding area over the years.

After the death of her husband of forty years, Charlene continued to work for Head Start until 2009 when she moved to Mansfield, Texas. She bought a home and became an active member of First United Methodist Church. She was active in Sunday School, prayer groups, and the Mission Center at her church. Wherever she lived, she loved volunteering to help the food ministry and programs that helped the less fortunate. She called ministry "my work," and loved to help wherever and whenever needed.

Charlene is preceded in death by her parents, Samuel ("Sam") and Roberta Childress; her husband, Jim; and one son, Robert. She is survived by her brother, Ernest Andrew ("Andy") Childress and his wife Dianne, of Chicago, Illinois; her sister-in-law Kathy and her husband Jim Jones of Waxahachie, her sons and their families: David and his wife Mary, children Katie (Dusold), Alyssa (Boggs), and Matt Harkreader; Ernie and wife Donna, children Samuel ("Lil' Sam") and Chelsea Harkreader; and Samuel ("Big Sam") and wife Charla, children Sydney, Arden, Scott, Aven, Sawyer, and Ava Harkreader. Charlene has two great-grandchildren: Rylynn Harkreader, and Aeowyn Boggs, as well as beloved nieces and nephews. "