Rex Paulsen

December 25, 1931- February 20, 2023

Rex Wendel Paulsen was born in Louisville, Idaho on December 25 1931. He was the 6th of 9 children born to Ephraim Martin Paulsen and Elizabeth Kathrine Collings. Rex started as a farmer and attended Ricks College on the side. He was drafted and served two years in the Army during the Korean War.

After the war, he married Rozella Mae Weekes from Archer Idaho on November 2, 1956, and they had four children: Randel Weekes, Nolan Rex, Rozella Gaye, and Karla Mae.

When he injured his back, he was told he needed to find a job that had less lifting. He transferred to Utah State College in Logan Utah and graduated with a BA degree in Industrial Arts. He took a job teaching high school auto shop in the small town of Boron California. Besides the auto shop, he taught metal shop drafting and driver’s education. He also helped his wife run a bakery. He and Rozella were divorced in 1972.

In 1973 Rex met and married Elaine Edna Brandt and added three additional stepchildren to his family; Sharon Farmer (Dave), Stan Decker, and Shelly Decker.

Rex went on to receive a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Pepperdine University. When Rex retired from teaching, he bought an auto shop in Waitsburg, Washington. After a few years, they moved to the western coast of Washington to Sequim and opened Rex’s Auto where Rex worked until he retired. Their home burned to the ground as a result of an accident and they purchased another home in the Sequim Mobile Estates. Elaine passed away on December 13, 2007.

Rex then met Geraldine Springer and they were sealed in the Seattle Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on December 3rd, 2008 for time and all eternity. Geraldine had 7 children from another marriage. They were Robert J, Steven J, Cathryn, Carolyn A, Darwin M, Becky J, and Theodore A. This brought the total number of Rex’s children and stepchildren up to 14. He broke both hips about five years apart, after his second fall his beloved Geraldine passed away on December 20, 2020.

His daughter Gaye and her husband Carl Parks offered to have them come and live with them in Morrilton, Arkansas, where he lived out the remainder of his days.

Rex was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints all of his life. He loved doing genealogy research and attending the temple.

Rex is preceded in death by his parents Ephraim Martin Paulsen and Elizabeth Kathrin Collings. All of his siblings: Lavere Ephraim, Wennie Ferrel, Glen Allen, Sylvia, Ray Leon, Bernice, Jewell, and Arlene. His wives, Elaine Edna Brandt Paulsen, and Geraldine Springer Paulsen, a son, Randel Weekes Paulsen, 2 step sons, Dave Wilson and Stan Decker, a step-son-in-law, Dave Farmer and grandson Jared Parks.

Rex is survived by: 3 children, Nolan Rex Paulsen (Marlene Bigler), Rozella Gaye Parks (Carl), and Karla Mae Christiansen (Eric); stepchildren: Sharon Decker Farmer, and Shelly Decker-Griffith (Price), Robert J Wilson (Alia), Steven J Wilson, Cathryn D Wilson, Carolyn A Wilson, Darwin M Wilson (Kari), Becky J Wilson (Masson Wattles), Theodore A Wilson (Shannon); stepdaughter-law Ann Decker, and a host of grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1101 Burrow Street, Morrilton, Arkansas 72110. Rex will be buried in Sequim Washington, alongside his wives Elaine and Geraldine. Arrangements are by Harris Funeral Home of Morrilton. Online guestbook: www.harrisfuneralhomes.net.