Paula Flannery
December 5, 1954-June 12, 2026

Paula was born to Dick and Marge Flannery at the old Trinity Hospital in Arcata in December of 1954, and left this life in early June 2026.

During her lifetime Paula traveled our rural roads and lanes on foot and in her truck as she shod horses, gathered materials for spinning, kept track of her growing sons. Checked in on her world.

Paula was strong and determined, a worker and a teacher. She fought hard, not always successfully, to overcome early trauma, and always sought solace in both work and pleasures and in walking.

She kept all manner of animals at her home place in Bayside, handled constant chores, kept busy. She rode in gymkhanas as a youngster, was crowned Orick Rodeo Queen as a teenager and won the prize of a horse. There was always a horse or two in her life. She got her first pony when she was just seven. She was the first woman to become a farrier in Humboldt County at the young age of just 21. She learned hot horseshoeing, and continued this work in her own business — Bare Foot Shoeing, offering trimming and local hauling in her three-horse trailer. “Sheep and goats welcome.” She also made sheep’s milk soap, which she sold under the name Miss Wooly.

Paula practiced fiber arts associated with animals. She learned to spin a broad variety of materials, and used her yarn to knit and crochet clothing and blankets — beautifully. She was usually an expert at whatever new skill she tried, could make new again the worn or torn.

And she shared her knowledge — training horses, and offering lessons in training and riding to children and adults. She taught knitting and crochet through College of the Redwoods, and entered these categories along with pies at the county fair. She also judged spinning and wool at the fair and demonstrated spinning techniques at Blue Ox in Eureka.

Paula was unique, spirited. Later in life she discovered a love of dancing, and could often be found a-whirl at local venues, enjoying the music, the movement and the fellowship live music encourages. It must have been liberating after years of bending heavy objects to her will and coaxing willful animals to cooperate with her ministrations. Maybe, like Atlas, she was trying to lift up the world, and she knew she would need to be strong of leg and well grounded in the earth.

Paula was preceded by her folks and her son, Silas. She is survived by her husband, Steve Pope, and their sons, Kalin and Luther and their families; by her sisters Katie and Val and their families.

A private family service is planned. If you wish to make a gift in memory of Paula, please consider the Lost Souls Horse Rescue in Freshwater. And some early morning when you are out-of-doors and hear a horse whinny in the distance, know that perhaps her old mare, Kelly, is missing seeing Paula at the fence.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Paula Flannery’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.