My nephew, Paul Petty, was such an inspiration to me and to all who knew him  He had a special gift to lift your spirits.  I miss him very much.  I am thinking of you today, Lilia,  David  and Kathy.  You are all in  my prayers today and every day.   Much love to you and all the family.    Judy Fergurson

I had him as a teacher for 7 th grade year and I just want to thank him for everything he taught me!. You might be gone but you will never be forgotten!. Rest In Peace soldier.

To Paul s Family,
I met Paul while I was stationed in Hawaii in 1998 and 1999.  I was in the Army and Paul a Marine.  We were part of a group of friends.  Paul was alot of fun and a genuine soul.  One night a bunch of us were out for a night of dancing and I brought my friend Kyle along.  Paul looked at me while him and I took a dance break and said "Jill, Kyle loves you".... I married Kyle and he s given me a good life and two beautiful children.  I always have to think of Paul and thank him for "turning on that switch".  I am so sorry for the loss of Paul.  His smile is always in my good and thankful memories.  Love to you all and my friend Paul!,  

Jill Sherrard
jcsherrard@gmail.com

I was one of staff sergeant petty's many students, he was an amazing teacher, he always pushed his students to work harder I don't have much to say but he was a very strong man

I was his student in Leonard Middle School. I went to the memorial/ celebration of life and I got to learn more about my staff sergeant, Im grateful for that. One time he asked for my help to carry some stuff to his car, And he asked me to bring a flower he had and put it on the passengers seat. He said he got that flower for his wife, He was always talking about her. He also talked about his dad, His life in the Marines, And how much he cared for his brothers from the Marines. I leave this letter down in here to tell his family, His wife and her family, That he made an impact on us and he changed several kid's lives. Thank you for making Staff Sergeant Petty who he was, May he rest with God 🙏

miss you bother, it was a pleasure serving with you

we get it, you're from Texas, haha

- Jesse Turner (E5)
1st Recon BN S-6

Sad to hear the news. Paul was 2 years older than my eldest son, Patrick Dudley. Jan taught all three sons piano and we lived only 2 blocks from each other.  May he rest in peace & light perpetual shine on him.  Prayers to family.  

Katy Eichenberg 
Friend
 While working at Tac Pro Shooting, Paul came to work there as well. He was a good friend. Later on he helped my son-in-law who had come back from Kabul and our daughter how to change from military life to civilian life. He will be missed but his words of wisdom will last for ever to those he has helped along. My sincere sympathy to Lilia and family. May God Bless You All.

Kathryn (Katy) Eichenber

Staff sergent Paul petty was as fierce as he was loving, and his kindness was overflowing. He inspired me to strive to become better than what I am and always pushed my limits.he taught me how to survive in a world tainted with hate and suffering. He said to me "When you grow up help people in need even if they don't want help because sometimes people need someone, but are to afraid to ask for aid in their situation." After that day I had motivation to do things cause I new if I turned my back on someone in need I could never forgive myself. He was the best teacher I ever had he leveled with his unit and helped with anything they asked him. But there one one quistion he never answered no matter what and that question was what is the birds and the bees . Someone asked him that and he made them do up downs fir the whole day. He got asked it so much he put it as a rule on the white board. I remember one time he made me do sniper crawls cause I was talking, it hurt, and it was tiring, but hes one of those teachers you can't argue with cause he never make me do anything without reason. Even if he did I would still do it, no questions asked. May God rest his soul.

Paul was a fine man and a much valued friend. He was the epitome of the Warrior Ethic.  Always solid, always cheerful.  May his memory be a blessing to all who knew him.  Most profound sympathy to his family.

I am speechless. I lost my best friend, Paul, of 38 years. He and his family were a second home to me. Infinite happy memories are flooding my head. When you would talk to Paul, 3 things were evident: he was on a first-name basis with God, he loved his wife and family, and he was a Marine thru and thru (even in his youth). He was the most positive person I have known in my almost 43 years of existence, and he always put God first. I still remember the first day I met him and we instantly clicked as lifelong friends—he was 6, I was 5. We lived two blocks from each other so we did everything together almost daily, from playing soldier, basketball, or riding bicycles outside, to drawing and playing board games on rainy days. As we grew older, those activities included shooting soda cans with BB guns, watching action movies, working out, or just hanging out. I loved his family like my own. I am fortunate enough to have fond memories of his mother Jan, his grandmother Jean, and his brother Sam who was good friends with my brother, whom we constantly had sibling wars with—some friendly, some not so friendly. I miss the times in recent years that Paul and Lilia would be in town and stop by to see me at the shop. Over the years we had a tradition that started in our youth. We would give each other $5 every birthday, and eventually called it the “floating 5” since it would just migrate back and forth. I was reading thru his texts and just last year he told me to go get some ice cream on my birthday with that “floating 5.” We might go a year without talking, but when we did we just picked up where we left off, as if it were just yesterday. I always envisioned him moving back home to teach and it would be like he never left. Truth is, he did move home and some day he and I will be those same two little kids running around and laughing, with Sam shooting baskets, and his mom drinking sweet tea on the porch as she watches us, as she often did. Till then, brother!

I will miss staff sergeant petty he was my favorite teacher on 7th grade, i will never forget him.

Paul was my teammate during our first few years in the USMC.  I loved him like family.  He will always be my brother and he holds a very special place in my heart!  We spent many days and nights in uncomfortable situations yet he always had a positive attitude!  He got me through some tough stuff just because he was right there with me, pushing me forward with his amazing ability to see the light in dark times.   He’d always pray with me before we would end our conversations.  I know in my heart that he’s guarding those streets of gold as we mourn his passing.  I love you my brother… and I’ll see you when I post for eternal duty!  

Paul was the most positive person I have ever known.  He always looked on the bright side.  He could always lift you up.  He was an awesome nephew.  I will miss him!

He was the best teacher I had. When I first joined his class I had no clue how close we would get. He told us so many stories from is child hood, when he and his buddies would do stupid stuff, when he taught his classes in kempo.the one thing that I can take from knowing him is that he will always be loved and remembered by the people he new. May Ssgt petty rest in peace with his brother sam and all his brothers from the marines. ORAH

Idk what to say but it’s been good times with him, he has inspired me to become a wayyyy better person like a super hero like him, I loved all the stories that he would tell us about his friends and his life and more ,he also made sure we was good and didn’t want anyone to get hurt, he’s a caring person, I had a lot of good memories with him but yeah he told us about how much he loves his wife for taking care of him and stuff and loves his dogs but yeah he inspired me to be a good person like man’s was a like a super hero to me so ima try to be a hero like him…idc if anyone thinks it’s lame or anything like that and I hope everyone who miss him and is sad that he died become a better person bc of him🤞🥹stay positive 

This Message Is From O’MARI And JoJo We Had Went To Leonard Middle School For Awhile And Me And My Brother Knew Srgt Petty He Was A Dude Like Frll He Was very Loving Person And Know His Up There In The Sky Not Stressing 

Paul, Bobby, and I used to share "war" stories in his classroom before school. It is a time which I found to be of great help in the stress of trying to teach middle schoolers. A better battle buddy can not be found. 

We have been very fortunate to have known Paul and his wife Lilia as our neighbors. Always with a smile and a wave, they have been caring and friendly people. They worked hard to achieve their career goals and make a difference in our community.  Last night the police, fire and ambulance services came to rescue a Paul, a Marine combat veteran. I am deeply sorry to report that he did not survive. He was an awesome neighbor and a great husband to his wife. He was a professing born-again Christian and received his final promotion to heaven last night. Godspeed Paul, we will meet again in heaven one day.


Paul was a dedicated Marine who always looked out for his brothers. I was glad to have spent time with him overseas. Rest In Peace, Paul

OBITUARY

Paul David Petty

26 May, 1978 – 18 July, 2022

Keller's Old Town Funeral Home & Cremation Service

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