Paula Dover

Paula Cobb Dover, 55, of Columbia, Mo., formerly of Cape Girardeau, beloved mother, sister, aunt and friend, went to be with her heavenly Father Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008, at her home after a lengthy illness.

She was born Oct. 22, 1952, in Cape Girardeau, to Howard Ivan and Lois Davis Cobb.

Paula moved to Columbia in 1989. She received a bachelor's degree in social work from Columbia College in 1998 and a master's degree in social work from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2000.

She was a member of Social Work Honorary Society, Phi Alpha. Prior to her illness she was employed as a mitigation specialist with the Missouri State Public Defender System. She also served more than 12 years as a board member and officer of Legal Aid of Mid-Missouri.

Paula was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Barbara Cobb Lynn.

She is survived by two sons, Eric and Aaron Dover of Columbia; a brother, Harold G. Cobb of Cape Girardeau; two sisters, Jean Schoen of Florissant, Mo., Marilyn (Bill) Reece of Murray, Ky.; a niece and friend, Angelia Cobb Randol of Red Bud Ill.; special friend, Bob Rosch of Columbia, and his children, Mindy, Beth and Nick; five nephews; two nieces; and many friends and colleagues who will miss her dearly.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to service time Friday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Cy Smith officiating. Entombment will follow at Cape County Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions may be sent to Mid-Missouri Legal Aid, 205 E. Forest Ave., Columbia, Mo., 65203, or to the Humane Society of Missouri, 1201 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis, Mo., 63110.