Roger Allen Paul

Roger Allan Paul May 16, 1938 - September 10, 2024 

We are saddened to announce the passing of Roger Allan Paul of Canby, Oregon on September 10, 2024. Roger was born in Portland, Oregon on May 16, 1938 to Donald and Virginia Paul. He grew up hunting and fishing with his dad and his best friend, Verlyn. He loved spending time on the coast, especially around Garibaldi, and he spent summers salmon fishing on Whidbey Island. He used to tell a story about fly fishing at night with a white moth. He was passionate about the outdoors and could never decide whether he loved the mountains or the ocean more. He learned to ski at age 12, spending hours in the mountains as a youth and later as a dad teaching his kids to ski and get their money’s worth on run and after run. He joined the Mazamas and climbed Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams, among others. 

In addition to loving nature, Roger also loved to play. In elementary school, Roger would pretend to fly the monkey bars over Japan with his friends, and his dad built him a toy machine gun to beat the Nazis. Roger was part of a program that taught children to train service dogs for use in the military, but the war ended before he was able to complete the training. He knew how to play hard, work hard, and from a young age, Roger had a strong sense of justice and service. Roger met Sheryl Ann Lovell in 1958 while he was attending Portland State College and she was a senior in high school working at Norcrest China in Portland. They were married on September 12, 1959. They welcomed their first child, Douglas Verlyn, who was born in 1960; Julie Ann followed in 1962, and David Maurice came along in 1967. During the early years of their marriage, Roger and Sheryl moved often for his work, living all over Oregon, including Baker, where they spent time enjoying the Blue Mountains; Walla Walla, Washington; Livermore, California, and Chicago, Illinois. Ten years after David was born, Michael Aaron came along while they were living in Centralia, Washington, with Jennifer Rene following in 1979. Roger and Sheryl taught their five children to work hard and do good in the world. They provided educational, recreational, and other enriching opportunities for their kids, taking them hunting, camping, fishing, paying for lessons, and encouraging their interests. 

As a father, Roger often adopted whatever passions his children were pursuing in the moment. His support went beyond an encouraging word here and there; Roger was all in, whether it was training horses, playing pirate ships, backpacking in the Cascades, studying Chinese culture, or working on old Chevys, Fords, and Jeeps. Later, he applied this same zeal and commitment to his grandchildren, who have fond memories of him spending hours with them, showing them the sights on the Oregon Coast, attending their important events, and always being ready with a hug and a joke when they visited. With their kids and grandkids by their side, Roger and Sheryl enjoyed a happy and loving marriage, supporting each other over many decades. In fact, Roger passed away just two days shy of their 65 year wedding anniversary. Their commitment to each other continues to inspire their children, family, and friends. Shortly after he married Sheryl, Roger transferred to Oregon State University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in Geology in 1961. He was the first person in his family to attend and graduate from college. With Sheryl’s support, Roger had a rich, varied, and fulfilling profession as a geologist. Over the course of his long career, he held secret scientific clearance at Lawrence Radiation Laboratories, where he consulted on a possible all-water canal through Panama, ran an engineering firm, started and managed landfills, and served on the Gas Research Institute, which enabled him to travel to India and consult on underground coal gasification in the 1980s. He started his own business, consulted on important geological projects, wrote and published academic papers in his field, and never hesitated to tell truth to power when a project was not viable. His work made a difference in the world, and he maintained his integrity through all of it. Roger’s strong sense of integrity and his inclination towards spirituality led him to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which he joined in 1963. 

As a member of the church, Roger served in many volunteer positions, including as a bishop over a congregation. Being bishop involved looking after the temporal and spiritual needs of the congregation, and Roger took this responsibility seriously, often bringing his kids along with him to visit members of the congregation and to perform service for them. Roger was thrilled when he had a chance to serve as a full-time missionary with Sheryl as the directors of Humanitarian Services in Madagascar. They were there for 18 months, serving alongside their good friends, the Harmons of Provo, Utah. Roger used his professional background to design and implement freshwater systems to remote villages and cyclone-proof roofs on village schools. He would often tear up while talking about his mission: a defining experience in his life. Roger remained faithful to his beliefs until the day he passed. Madagascar wasn’t the only country he and Sheryl visited together. Roger had a passion for travel, and he was able to travel all over the United States and see much of the world. He and Sheryl backpacked through Europe in the 80’s and went on countless cruises all over the world later in their marriage. Roger took a memorable trip through China with his sons, as well, and relished the respect they show their elders in Chinese culture. He was well known for taking excellent pictures of his trips, and would regale family and friends with detailed slide shows, especially of his time in India in the 80s. Roger never lost his sense of wonder and loved to see new things, whether it was an autumn trip to the east coast to see the fall leaves, or a visit to a sheep farm in New Zealand to watch the legendary sheep dogs in action. Roger’s motto was “If someone else can do it, I can, too.” This attitude carried him through his schooling, career, home ownership and improvement projects, car repairs, travel, church service, fatherhood and grandfatherhood, and anything else that he wanted to do. He built houses, did plumbing and electrical work, fixed cars, cut wood, scuba dived, farmed, raised livestock, and rode horses (which fulfilled his desire to be a cowboy). 

His children say that Roger seemed to know everything and could do anything. When they hesitated about a decision, Roger said “do something, even if it’s wrong” to snap them into action. He was not idle and could work circles around his sons until he was way past the age anyone expected him to. His work ethic, sense of wonder, faithfulness, and sharp sense of humor will be sorely missed by all who knew him. Roger is survived by his wife of 65 years, Sheryl; his children, Doug (Cheryl) Paul, Julie (Eric) Louderback, David (Camille) Paul, Michael (Carly) Paul, and Jennifer (Hilton) Diaz-Camillo; his brother, Greg (Nancy), Paul, and his grandchildren Megan (Glenn) Gillas, Heidi (David) Woodstock, Spenser (Heather) Louderback, Dana (Kathryn) Louderback, Clancy Paul, Clayton (Hailey) Paul, Lia Freeman, Holden Paul, Tuli Freeman, Hazel Paul, Fuamai Freeman, Emilee Diaz-Camillo, Ruby Paul, and Wells Paul. His brother, Gary, and his parents, Don and Virginia preceded him in death. A celebration of Roger’s life will take place at Canby Funeral Chapel in Canby, Oregon during an open house from 12:00-2:00 pm on September 28th, 2024. Those wishing to pay their respects may stop by during those hours to share their memories of Roger and chat with the family. Following the open house, there will be a grave dedication at Rock Creek Cemetery in Canby, Oregon at 2:30 pm.  Arrangements by Canby Chapel.