Gloria Antonette Hawthorne

Gloria Antonette (Paulsen) was born October 25, 1929 to Anton Paulsen and Fern (Ashcraft) Paulsen in The Dalles, Oregon. On December 25, 2020 in Klamath Falls Oregon, God and Gloria decided it was time for her to go Home.

The early years were spent with her older brother Raymond, who was about one and a half years older, and cousins under the care of their maternal grandmother while their parents were working. She had a younger brother Anton Paulsen Jr. who died when he was two and a half years old. She became close to all her cousins, who were more like siblings to her, keeping in touch with them in the later years.  When Gloria was 11 years old, her sister Beverly was born.  Gloria took her everywhere, even on dates!

Gloria graduated from Lafayette High School in McMinnville Oregon on June 2, 1948, in a class of only eight graduating students.

After high school she was introduced to Vern Abe Hawthorne by his aunt and uncle in a restaurant.  It was love at first sight. After a short courtship, they were married on January 29, 1949 when she was nineteen years old. They were married fifty-one years.

For the next seventeen years Vern and Gloria moved around to different places such as Las Vegas, Nevada, Pensacola, Florida, Bend, Oregon.  They finally settled down in Klamath Falls, Oregon where she was blessed with her only child, a son, Jon Michael in 1965. She would say many times how she never thought she would have children and then at age 36 she got a surprise. Gloria came from a hard-working family and she continued that same work ethic. She spoke many times of how she worked hard to buy her house and car and was proud of her accomplishments. Gloria had different jobs throughout her life, bartending was one of her main jobs. She was such a “people person” that this job suited her to a tee. And for being (way) under five feet tall, she could hold her own. She met many lifelong friends through her work. Favorite activities were playing Ten Thousand (dice game), going out to lunch (Klamath Grill) and sharing birthday parties with her special girlfriends, and walking.

In the 90’s she had grandkids to keep her entertained.  She took care of them, played games and spoiled them with gifts. She enjoyed attending their sports activities through school and watch them grow into young adults.

“Mom was always there for me, she made sure I had what I needed to succeed in life. She taught me to be thoughtful, kind and humble through her actions.  Even in her last days she was very applicative of what people did. for her.  If one lesson in life I have learned from her is being happy with what you have, it does not take things to be happy.”

Family and friends were very important to her. Gloria is preceded in death by her parents, her two brothers, and husband Vern Hawthorne.

Gloria is survived by son Jon Hawthorne and daughter in-law Jana, sister Beverly Gunn (Truman), grandkids Christopher Hawthorne, Zachary Hawthorne, Marisa Hawthorne, Cassie Leeper and Jeff Leeper. Great grandkids Michael Rodriguez, Aiden Rodriguez and Holly Anne Hawthorne.  Many special relatives and friends: Mike Peterman, Christina Distefano, David and Ronda Beck, Robert and Maria Garcia, Robert and Anna Poteet, Tyler Poteet, Bob and Andrea Simonson, Rodriguez family, and Vivianne Chubb, mom’s best friend.

The Hawthorne family would like to thank the many staff from Sky Lakes Hospital, Klamath Hospice, Pacifica Assisted Living, DHS, Veterans Administration, Dr. Britch’s office, O’ Hairs/Wards Funeral Home, and the individual friends who asked about, cared so deeply, and took care of Gloria.  Gloria knew you cared and spoke about how grateful she was to have you in her life.