MEMORIES of PAUL

There are so many memories of Paul through the years. His deadpan humor which nailed me every time. His need for quiet in the midst of a party. I can remember finding him alone in another room. I would be seeking my own quiet after trying to make sense of voices I couldn't hear. We would sit together companionably, but not speaking. The always cheerful gift of his many talents which played such a large role in the growth of the Fellowship.

I will miss him.

Helen

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Many, many years ago Paul and I carpooled to U. T. Tyler to attend classes. I wish I could remember all those conversations we had, but only two are vivid.

We were traveling down Highway 31, Paul was driving. We were close to crossing over Interstate 20 when a squirrel ran out in front of the vehicle. Paul swerved to avoid the squirrel but clipped the little guy. He was so upset. I tried to tell him the squirrel had made it and was okay but I don't think he bought it. We were quiet for the rest of that trip. He had such a reverence for life.

The other trip to UT I was driving my S10 pickup. For some reason the biology students (as I recall) were selling plants out of the UT greenhouse to raise funds. I bought several plants. Paul helped me load them in the back of the pickup, laughing the whole time because he was sure they weren't going to make the trip back to Longview without being blown to bits and what was I thinking.

Last night Jack was visiting with his brother on the telephone. He told Kent that he had lost a good friend that day and was sad. After being asked who it was he said, "Remember the gazebo in our backyard at the old house. Paul was the carpenter who built it. I always loved it out there."

We'll treasure all the times we got to spend with Paul and his friendship.

Sheila and Jack McElroy

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I loved Paul's dry sense of humor. One Sunday, when he was our lay leader, several women in the fellowship returned from a UU Woman's conference all charged up. During announcements they started chanting, "We are willful women! We are willful women! We are willful women!"

From the podium, Paul calmly looked over the group and softly said, "As if we didn't already know."

George Leonberger

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  If impact on a community - not just the powers-that-be, but all of the community - is the measure of a person's contribution to creation, then Paul's life is/was nothing short of a full measure. Please let us know how we can help. Our love is with you.

Steve and Kathy Crane

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I'm so sorry to learn of Paul's passing. He and Erika have been very close to my heart these last few weeks and all of his many dear ones will continue to be in my thoughts during the days ahead. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to know him. The community that he so richly blessed has my best wishes during this difficult time. If there is some way that I can offer support to Erika or the Unitarian Fellowship of Longview from this great distance, please let me know. This is one of those times that I wish I were nearer.

With deep sympathy,

Durrell

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We had a lot of very lean years at the Fellowship. Years when it was a struggle to keep going Sunday after Sunday... years when pennies were hard to come by, let alone dimes and dollars...years when only four, five or six people arrived for Sunday services and the electric bill was due! Paul was one of the stalwarts who stepped into the breaches when they occurred, who never lost faith that he and we were building something good, who opened his heart and his pockets to keep the Fellowship alive. He took on the task of leadership again and again and helped to shape what we have now. The Fellowship is one of his monuments.

Ruth Semrau

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I'll remember his gentle spirit and dry/wry sense of humor. One of the few people that truly left the world a better place.

Julie

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I will always remember Paul's wonderful, dry and witty sense of humor. Sitting in the Fellowship, watching and listening as he carried out his lay leader duties, I could always tell when a delightfully wicked idea occurred to him because the corner of his mouth would begin to twitch into just the tiniest bit of a smile.

One day, when we were in the midst of building a playhouse to raffle off as a fundraiser for the next Women Build house, I found Ingrid in the Habitat office and asked if Paul was around because I needed some advice. Ingrid said he was in his office. When I went in there he greeted me with, "Eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables."

And I will always remember his gentleness and integrity. I felt sheltered and safe around him. One Sunday, after he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, he and Erika came to the Fellowship. Everyone wanted to talk with them and offer their comfort and help. I wanted to also, but held back and stood off by the wall because they were quite mobbed. I was afraid they

continued on Page 3 ... see Remembering Paul