Paula Deist Remembered: Hot Springs Community Mourns a Life of Grace, Strength, and Compassion

HOT SPRINGS, AR — The tight-knit community of Hot Springs is deeply shaken by the tragic passing of Paula Deist, aged 77, whose life was abruptly and heartbreakingly cut short in a head-on collision on State Highway 7 on June 11, 2025. As news of the accident spread, family, friends, and neighbors have been left grappling with profound loss, remembering Paula as a woman of serenity, compassion, and unwavering devotion whose presence brightened every room she entered.

A Legacy of Warmth, Faith, and Tireless Service

Paula’s life story embodies the virtues of sincerity, resilience, and heartfelt generosity. Born and raised in Arkansas, she developed a deep love for her home state—one that would radiate across all facets of her life. Rooted in a strong Christian faith, she embarked on her journey with a servant’s heart: dedicating her early years to hospitality and later to education and volunteerism.

Spending over 25 years working in a local school district, Paula committed herself as both a teacher and later a substitute, displaying remarkable patience and mentorship. She was known for her calm guidance, her consistent presence, and her ability to celebrate the spirit of learning in every student. She never faltered under pressure; she remained poised, respectful, and dedicated to making a difference.

Following retirement, Paula found renewed purpose in serving her faith community. For over four decades, she was an active and faithful member of First Baptist Church of Hot Springs, contributing through English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, mission work, and leadership in various church committees. She lent her voice in worship, her hands in outreach, and her heart in prayer circles—creating a tangible and lasting impact on those around her. (dignitymemorial.com)

However, the title she cherished most was that of grandmother and great-grandmother—a role she approached with unrivaled devotion.

Family at the Center

Paula’s family was her greatest treasure, and to them she was more than a matriarch—she was the cornerstone of their joys, memories, and spiritual lives. She shared an extraordinary bond with her late husband of 43 years, Robert “Bob” Deist, traveling alongside him across the U.S. and around the globe. Together, they explored over 30 countries and visited every state, intentionally immersing themselves in diverse cultures and spiritual practices. Their shared curiosity and joy in discovery became a legacy of expansive perspective and open-mindedness. (dignitymemorial.com)

She was also a loving mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother—roles she filled with patience, encouragement, and heartfelt celebration. To her daughters, she was a nurturing mentor who gently guided them in faith and character. To her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she was a constant source of affection, wisdom, and wonder.

“Her greatest legacy is the strong foundation of belief, compassion, and curiosity she instilled in them,” her family’s obituary notes, highlighting the depth of the roots she helped her descendants grow. (dignitymemorial.com)

Those who were lucky enough to be loved by Paula will forever remember her warmth at every milestone—graduations, birthdays, Sunday dinners—where she left an imprint of affection and stability.

Rooted in Character, Flourishing in Generosity

Beyond family, Paula carried a reputation for encouraging others—sometimes through grand efforts, other times through small gestures that meant the world. Her famed gardens, cultivated with love and patience, often served as a sanctuary not just for her, but for the community: neighbors stopping by to admire, parishioners visiting to find solace, and young learners pulled in by lessons in tending the soil.

She was the friend who dropped soup on the doorstep just because, the volunteer teacher who stayed late to help a student succeed, the lunch companion who shared stories and laughter with the “Fairdale Lunch Friends,” as her obituary affectionately notes. (dignitymemorial.com)

Her readiness to volunteer extended far past church walls. Whether it was standing beside food drive tables or supporting local rescues and animal shelters—which many believe included Hanks Rescue as a personal favorite—she gave freely, consistently, without fanfare. In lieu of flowers, the family asked for donations to Hanks Rescue, a testament to Paula’s beliefs in giving toward lasting purpose.

The Accident and Its Aftermath

On June 11, 2025, around 1:26 p.m., tragedy struck in the form of a head-on collision on State Highway 7 near Hot Springs. Paula was driving a 2018 Toyota when her vehicle veered into oncoming traffic and collided with a 2008 Hyundai. She and a passenger in the Hyundai, a 19-year-old woman, were both killed in this devastating accident. Two other individuals—a 21-year-old driver and a juvenile passenger—survived and were transported to CHI St. Vincent Hospital. (ludwiglawfirm.com)

Arkansas State Police Trooper Sgt. Kevin Steed reported favorable driving conditions—clear skies and dry roads—suggesting that road or weather limitations may not have been contributing factors. However, authorities continue to investigate the circumstances and aim to determine if any mechanical issues, health-related events, driver fatigue, or other influences played a role. (arkadelphian.com)

As community members process the shock of Paula’s passing—alongside another family’s grief—they are left confronting the fragility of life and the sometimes-unpredictable turns of everyday existence.

Community Response: Mourning, Remembering, Renewing

Ever-present in the wake of tragedy is grief—yet also a revival of connection. Hot Springs has responded with collective compassion. East and west sides of the city have rallied around Paula’s family: organizing prayer chains, delivering meals, and hosting prayer vigils at the church she loved so dearly.

Blossoms and heartfelt notes now dress the highway section where the collision occurred. Neighbors have begun tending vigil sites beside the road, planting flowers and laying candles in her memory. First Baptist Church is planning a service that honors her faith, her global spirit, and her life’s purpose, touching upon the many domains she enriched—from family and community to education and outreach.

Inspiring a Community to Live with Intention

Paula’s life has become a mirror reflecting the values of empathy, selflessness, and connection. Community leaders hope to honor her memory the way she would have preferred: by reinvesting in local service.

• Faith-Inspired Outreach: First Baptist Church is expanding its ESL and food pantry programs, which Paula passionately supported, ensuring more families receive welcoming assistance.
• Garden of Grace: Within her community and church grounds, plans are in motion to plant a “Garden of Grace”—a living memorial dedicated to her love of nature, beauty, and peaceful reflection.
• Local Scholarship or Fund: An idea being nurtured is a scholarship in her name for women pursuing careers in community service, education, or nonprofit leadership, perpetuating Paula’s encouragement of others.
• Road Safety Advocacy: The city commission has begun discussions about improving Highway 7 safety—adding signage, speed monitoring, and reflective materials—in hopes of protecting others from experiencing similar heartbreak.

A Final Tribute: Celebration of a Life Well-Lived

Paula’s memorial service, scheduled for June 19 at Gross Funeral Home Chapel, will weave together threads of her life story: music, verse, laughter, and tears. Attendees are encouraged to wear vibrant colors—echoing the international spirit and adventurous soul that defined her. Speakers will include childhood friends, family members recounting travel stories, gardening neighbors, classroom memories, church partners, and recipients of her unwavering kindness.

Honorary pallbearers, including her loyal “Fairdale Lunch Friends,” highlight the deep connections she nurtured in every aspect of her life. (dignitymemorial.com)

Rather than mourn solitude, this service promises to reflect the warmth Paula cherished: communal songs, photographs from family journeys abroad, a moment of silence along Highway 7, and a release of butterflies to symbolize the ongoing journey of her spirit.

Remembering Paula, Moving Forward

The story of Paula Deist is more than a narrative of loss—it is a call to live with openness. As the community grieves, it is also rediscovering the meaning she infused into sidewalks, classrooms, church halls, volunteer kitchens, gardens, and kitchen tables across Hot Springs.

In her stead, those she loved are stepping forward—ready to welcome newcomers, to sit in silence with the grieving, to share meals with neighbors, and to mentor children in need of a kind word.

Her life reminds us that every human connection holds the power to heal, to inspire, and to elevate. Even in unexpected endings, legacy is a living force—shaping tomorrow through acts we choose today.

A Life Remembered, A Community Reimagined

Paula’s narrative is etched into Hot Springs—without hyperbole, but with undeniable impact. Born March 20, 1948, she lived fully for 77 years. Her departure on June 11, 2025, has left an indelible mark—one that is being honored through active love and renewal.

Her legacy is woven into grandchildren’s laughter, seeds planted under her care, meals shared in church kitchens, lessons penned in her students’ notebooks, and doors opened to those who arrived with little more than hope.

This community is united in grief—but even more so in resolve. To emulate Paula’s qualities: humility in success, service in capacity, curiosity toward the world, and unwavering conviction in the value of each soul.

Paula Deist will be deeply missed. She will forever guide, through smiles remembered, kindness shared, and lives opened. She leaves behind a community strengthened—in grief, but stronger in its bonds and purpose.

Rest in peace, Paula. Your love will never fade from the highways you traveled and the hearts you touched.