Paula Marie (Splitt) Chandley, a thirty-one year resident of Santa Cruz, CA passed away on July 1, 2015 following the progression of ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). Paula was 67. Paula is survived by, Paul, her husband of 46 years; her mother, Alice Splitt; two sisters, Teresa Quist of Mitchell; Lisa Johnson of Spearfish, SD; two brothers, Steve Splitt of Torrance, CA and Kelly Splitt of Madison, WI; two daughters, Erin Chandley and Lisa Chandley and granddaughter, Isabella Luna Chandley all of Santa Cruz, Ca. She was preceded in death by her father, John D. Splitt. Paula attended schools in Mitchell and graduated from Mitchell High School in 1965. She graduated from Southern Colorado State University in 1968 with a degree in nursing. Paula went on to complete more that forty years in nursing. She worked a total of five years in two large teaching hospitals in Chicago and Los Angeles, three years in a large University infirmary, and seven years in Los Angeles burn center. She completed her first year of nursing at St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center in Colorado and lastly, Paula, worked twenty-six years at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz as a Post Anesthesia Recovery Room Nurse before having to retire due to the onset of ALS in 2009. Paula volunteered on nine overseas medical trips as a surgical recovery nurse. Her first two trips were with Hospital de la Familia a primitive and mountainous village in Guatemala. On each of these trips she was able to take one of her daughters. Paula went on to volunteer with ReSurge on seven international surgical medical teams that included Brazil, Bolivia, the Philippines, Nepal, Vietnam, India, and finally her last trip to China in 2009. Paula always felt the rewards of nursing. She rarely forgot to celebrate a co-workers achievements or special day and she wanted co-workers to remember to honor their nursing careers with mementos on Nurses' Day. Paula continued to train and study throughout her career. Paula became the first nationally certified Post Anesthesia Critical Care nurse at Dominican Hospital at the age of 60. Paula enjoyed spending time with her daughters and returning trips to be with family in Mitchell. She was an avid walker having three German Shepherds over a thirty-year period. Paula loved to snow ski and frequented the Sierras and out-of-state ski trips to Washington, Oregon, Utah and Canada with friends and family. Many west coast vacations trips were devoted to wine tasting excursions from Washington to San Diego. Paula continued to have a courageous smile for visitors throughout her remaining years. A memorial service will be held 10:30 AM Thursday, July 16, 2015 at First Lutheran Church (411 N. Duff, Mitchell, SD). Interment will follow at Graceland Cemetery in Mitchell, SD. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at First Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Palliative Care - PAMF, Sutter Health, Santa Cruz, CA 95065. Arrangements are under the direction of the Will Funeral Chapel.