Paula Jo Rainer September 25, 1956 – January 19, 2022

Paula Jo Rainer

September 25, 1956 – January 19, 2022

Paula Jo Rainer, age 65, of Gatesville, passed away on the evening of Jan. 19, 2022.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022, at Scott’s Funeral Home with Bruce Cox officiating. Visitation with the family will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Paula Jo was born on Sept. 25, 1956, in Alameda, California to the late Tommie Bushong and Betty Pitts Bushong. Growing up, the family lived in Pecos and Irving, and eventually settled in the Turnersville community. She graduated from Gatesville High School in 1975. That same year, Paula met the love of her life, Joe Pat Rainer, at the Shandar Club in Gatesville. They married on April 17, 1976. Paula Jo and Joe Pat had two sons, Rance and Neeley. She was always so proud of her boys. Paula worked at the Lowery Clinic, The National Bank, and the Western Savings in Loan before beginning her career with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in 1989. She began as a corrections officer and retired in 2009 as a safety officer.

In 2006, with the addition of her first grandson, Paula Jo took on a new name, Momma Jo. She was a devoted grandmother. They enjoyed learning to sew, eating ice cream, and laughing. Momma Jo adored all of her boys, big and small.

Paula Jo was always up for a good time. She and Joe Pat loved to go dancing with their friends. She loved to gamble and would always tell you if the “casino gods” were good to her or not. Paula Jo never passed up a garage sale. And she always had a hobby or craft. Her greatest passion became quilting. She loved quilting retreats and cherished her quilting friends that had become part of her family. Paula Jo was adventurous, kind, and gave the very best hugs. If you knew her, you were her friend.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her mother-in-law, Irene Rainer, and her father-in-law, C.C. Rainer.

Paula Jo is survived by her husband of 45 years, Joe Pat Rainer; sons, Charles (Rance) Rainer and wife, Meredith, and Neeley Rainer; grandchildren, Ian, Colin, and Ollie; siblings Ken Bushong and wife, Patty, of Bastrop, Pam Caldwell and husband, Keith, of Gatesville, and Lloyd Bushong of Gatesville.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Boys and Girls Club, 2533 E. Main Street, Gatesville, TX 76528.