Paula C. Waatti

Paula Christine Waatti passed away on August 14, 2015 at the age of 69. She died from a fall in her home. She was born on September 9, 1945 in Casper to Jerome and Ellen Waatti, the third of the couple's four daughters.

Paula attended Willard Elementary School and Dean Morgan Junior High before transferring to be part of the first class at the newly built East Jr. High School. She graduated from Natrona County High School in 1963. Paula showed early interest in and talent with journalism and served as editor of the East Wind Newspaper, the NCHS Gusher newspaper, and NCHS Mustang yearbook. While at NC, she was an active member of the Honor Society, National Quill & Scroll, and the Studio 54 art club. She served as editor of the Chinook, the student newspaper, and The Thunderbird yearbook during her time at Casper College. Paula continued her pursuit through a journalism degree at the University of Wyoming. She was editor of both the Branding Iron Newspaper and the UW Yearbook. She graduated with her B.A. in journalism in 1968. During her years at UW she was also very active in the Young Republicans.

After graduation, Paula went to work for Bob Peck at the Riverton Ranger. She was a general reporter but loved writing her humor column, "That's Life", for which she won a prestigious award from the Wyoming Press Association.

Paula returned to Casper to assist her aging parents with the Waatti Map Company, their oil and gas development map company. She purchased the company from them when they retired and continued her second career as a self-employed business woman. She taught herself the fine art of cartography, becoming a highly respected petroleum map maker in the Rocky Mountain region. During this time, she was also diagnosed with acute glaucoma. Paula spent 35 years battling this disease.

Paula was a Past Honored Queen of Bethel #28 Job's Daughters, a member of the Order of Eastern Star, and a founding member of Desk & Derrick Club in Casper.

When her parents were in their eighties, she moved back to the family home to take care of them. She remained there for the rest of her life. She loved cooking, baking, crossword puzzles, the color blue, dogs, but especially her family, most notably her nephews and niece and their children. She was a deliberate optimist despite many hardships, embodying the Finnish ideal of SISU of which she reminded her family during hard times. Her faith was an anchor throughout her life.

Paula was preceded in death by her parents, Jerome Waatti and Ellen Korpinen Waatti; and her sister, Maren Waatti-Scovel and brother-in-law Chris Scovel. She is survived by her sisters, Sandy Cordoba of Prescott, AZ and Holly Thompson of Casper; her niece, Amanda Cordoba of Prescott; her nephews Alex Cordoba of Portland, OR; Joshua Thompson (Rachael Schuh) of Casper, and Shane Scovel (Kelly Martel-Scovel) of Phoenix; great-nephews and nieces Bailey and Christian Cordoba, Dylan Thompson, Hayden and Avery Scovel, and Kyri Emerson (Schuh).

Donations in Paula's memory may be made to Meals on Wheels in Casper. The family requests that condolences be sent to Holly Thompson, 1825 East 15th Street, Casper, WY 82601, or Sandy Cordoba, 1075 Ruth Street Apt #411 Prescott, AZ 86301.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, August 24, at 1:00 PM, at Newcomer Funeral Home Chapel. Cremation has taken place and Paula's urn will be buried in the family plot at Highland Cemetery following the service.

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