Terre Haute, Indiana - TERRE HAUTE - Paulette Stagg, 77, of Terre Haute passed away Sunday, November 9, 2025 in her residence surrounded by her family.

She was born September 25, 1948 in Dugger, Indiana to Paul and Wilma (Gambill) Thornberry.

Paulette is survived by her sons, Doug Stagg (Kathy) and Ryan Stagg (Amy); sister, Peg Holland; brother, Jerry Thornberry (Roseanne); grandchildren, to whom she was known at "Grammy" because she was not just a grandmother she was a "prize," Hannah, Jarrid, Jessica, Megan, and Tessa; and several nieces and nephews. She also had many close friends that she enjoyed spending time with.

Paulette was a 1971 graduate of Indiana State University and earned her J.D from Indiana University School of Law at Indianapolis in 1979, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She was also a candidate for the Indiana Law Review. She received the America Jurisprudence Award, Conflicts of Law. She did a Legal Internship and was a Paralegal for the US Attorney's Office, Southern District of Indiana, and she was involved with the Women's Caucus.

In 1979 Paulette started as an associate with Hertwig and Leedy and in 1980 became a partner with Hertwig, Leedy, and Stagg, later to become Leedy and Stagg. In 1987 she worked for the Vigo County Prosecutor's Office and in 1995 became the Magistrate for the Vigo County Juvenile Court. In 2010 she went on to work as the Attorney for the Indiana Department of Child Services, working primarily in Clay, Sullivan, and Putnam counties.

Her legal memberships included the Terre Haute Bar Association, the Indiana Bar Association, the Indiana Judges Association, Indiana's Supreme Court Committee on Juvenile Justice, and the Indiana and National Association of Juvenile and Family Law Judges.

She also had many local community involvements including Boards of YWCA, Wabash Valley Planned Parenthood, Hyte Community Center, and the Council on Domestic Abuse.

In her free time Paulette loved to travel both overseas and throughout the United States. She was also an avid sports fan, always cheering on her Hoosiers.

A visitation to celebrate Paulette will be held Friday, November 14, 2025 from 4:00 until 7:00 pm in DeBaun Springhill Chapel. Private family burial will be at a later date in Center Ridge Cemetery in Sullivan.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers those who desire can make donations to Susan G. Komen Foundation for cancer research.

Online condolences may be left at:

www.debaunfuneralhomes.com