Paula Shannon Woodruff

The love of my life has left me too soon. I ache to have you back, to embrace you again, to enjoy our walks while holding your hand and to spend a little more time together. If only I could share another meal with you, to laugh with you. Life has parted us and it hurts all who have loved and cared for you. You will be missed by all, but especially by me. Life has been too short and our time has been too little. Our home is now lonely.

 Paula Shannon Woodruff was born March 31, 1976 to Carol Grames Moore and Paul Shannon. She was a child that was loved and doted over by her parents. A beautiful and smart girl, she was raised in a Christian home and promptly rose above her peers in Bible Quiz. She thrived and graduated early from Elkhart High in 1994. She then spent some time finding herself and devising a plan for her life. Between high school and college she was passionate about reading, cats, writing, X-files, doughnuts and pizza. Always ambitious, and organized Paula then enrolled at Indiana University South Bend quickly graduating Summa Cum Laude in Elementary Education in 2001. She never boasted about this accomplishment, most may have never known of it.

 She always appreciated working with children and had ambitions to become an educator. Although she thoroughly enjoyed teaching, this was tempered with the reality of the job. Soon, life turned once again and her mother introduced Allen Woodruff. Together, Allen and Paula loved each other and spent more time together. Eventually, there was a proposal and a wedding, February 14th 2003. Living happily, they moved to North Carolina and settled into a comfortable life. Something was missing, a child.

Together, they adopted Rachel Taylor and found a new role as parents. Rachel quickly became prominent in Paula’s life and creating new and memorable adventures. As Rachel grew older, Paula again renewed her passion for writing but this time with meaning, vigor and stamina. Amazingly, she then wrote and sold a total of 30 science fiction romance novels, under the pen names Kellie McAllen and Rachel Taylor.

 Paula always yearned for time on the beach, basking in the sun and reading a thick book. A Caribbean cruise would work just as well. Her passion would turn again, this time as a Swifty. Her phone was filled with these popular tunes. It wasn’t long until she was dragging her daughter to a then, reasonably priced concert. Later, her husband to a Taylor Swift drive in movie. After Rachel graduated high school, her fondness shifted once again, this time to designing and decorating.

 The TV was filled with endless shows featuring the latest styles and colors. It was so irresistible, something had to give. “Let’s build a house!” and she quickly designed her dream home. This was edited to fit the budget, and the concessions were reasonable. She ended up with a floor-plan to be overjoyed about. Then came the fun part, digital decorating! Everything was preplanned and contingent items were also selected. All the colors, styles, hard surfaces, soft surfaces, pillow, pictures, paint, fixtures. Allen jokingly referred to her as “Six Pack Paula” for receiving six packages a day from an online retailer. Construction was dreadfully slow, permits, excavation, foundation, floor joists, walls, rafters, electrical, plumbing, and finally actual decorating! Her dream home was finally finished.

 Paula lived a life that many would appreciate. We are going to miss, our friend, our daughter, our mother, our spouse. Farewell, we love you, and long to see you again.

In lieu of a memorial or flowers please consider donating to one or all of the following: Shepard’s Cove Food Pantry,  1010 East Mishawaka Rd. Elkhart, Indiana 46517, (574) 293-5963, ShepherdsCoveFoodPantry.com/donate Or Little Portion Food Pantry 408 West Davis Street Burlington, NC 27215, (336) 226-8796, Or a local food pantry of your choice.