BEDFORD, Paulette Denise

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Friday, June 26, 2015 Paulette Denise Bedford How do you tell the world that a mother, wife, sister, artist, teacher, mentor and friend has died? On May 27, 2015, Paulette Denise Bedford of Prescott Valley, who was all of these things, took her last breath. She was so much more than a few words on paper could ever mean that it almost trivializes her being to try and write them. She was 6'4" of life that was somehow crammed into a 4'10" frame, and when she passed on, she left a void in all that knew her. Lucky for us, she also left behind traces of her essence in the family she cared for, the friends she made and the many paintings that she created throughout her life. Paulette was born in Bordeaux, France in 1936, which was just about the worst time you could be born in Europe, and at age two she contracted Polio, which was just about the worst thing you could get as a child. Never in her 78 years did she ever let those early struggles define her. Her family immigrated to the Unites States in 1949, and she called Prescott Valley her home for the past 20 years. She held many careers in her lifetime, from draftsperson to her work in Special Education, but no matter what she did, she used her artistic abilities to make the lives of the people around her richer. Paulette is survived by her husband of almost 60 years, Lee Bedford; as well as her three children, Denise Peters, Debi Brooks, Kurtis Bedford; and six grandchildren. She is also survived by the gifts of her talents that many of us are fortunate enough to keep, draw from, and pass on--a type of immortality she unwittingly but lovingly bequeathed. There will be a Celebration of Life service at 2 p.m. on Monday, June 29, 2015, at CASA Senior Center. Please Contact CASA at 928-772-3337 for more information. Information provided by survivors.