Paul Wesley Allison

Paul Wesley Allison, 59, passed away on December 25th, 2013 surrounded by loved ones in Pasadena, Texas. He was born on June 13th, 1954 in Kansas City, Missouri to Carl Vernon Allison and JoAnn Allison.

Vernon, in search of work and open space, took a job at a window factory in Rich Hill, MO; moving the family south where they settled and made a home in Hume, MO. That home would grow to house six children Paul, the eldest, Phyllis, Becky, Barby, Mark, & Matthew. It was highly unlikely that anyone in small town Hume didn't know of the Allison Clan, or at least how to reach their parents to correct an issue. Paul would not be exempt from boisterous activities in a country town that begged to be hunted, fished, climbed, or getting dirty in. Paul was active in sports, and often bragged about his prowess on the basketball court with his self proclaimed 6 ft frame. He was an inch or two shy of that height for the record, but 5-10 was close enough in Hume.

In 1969, his parents agreed to allow him to travel to Texas for the summer to work with his Grandfather, William "Red" Falk. Red was a tank builder, welder, fitter, and all-around hand, whom had been wounded in World War II and boasted of having three sub-tenders shot out from underneath him and made it. Red was the epitome of a man in his eyes, a real John Wayne type, and Paul idolized him for it. He spent summer after summer holding a grinder, fetching tools, and then welding, and fitting, and operating 100 ton cranes, until he eventually would be placed in a crew leader position at 17. Red's work kept him constantly in travel, where a project might take 3-5 months at a time and then off to the next town or State. Paul experienced many different places, such as New York, Pennsylvania, Alaska, and often would let you know that he "had seen all but 7 states in this great Country". Those times were exciting for Paul, and a big part of molding him into the man he would become.

Upon graduation from High School in 1972, he would try his hand in College. He enrolled at Missouri Southern in Joplin, MO, and walked onto the football team. Hume was too small to have football, but he so wanted to play. In classic Paul fashion, he "embellished" a little on his football registration form and told the Coach he was a stud fullback from Hume. The coach most likely never questioned it, or perhaps didn't even know where Hume was. Of course it wasn't long before the staff realized his bluff after seeing that he couldn't put his pads in right, or line up correctly. Paul would say that, "watching it on TV was sure different then doing it". He was in shape though, and fast, and he made the team as a backup defensive end. That year MO Southern would win the National Championship. He had the paper certificate framed and on display in his home to prove he was a champion.

School didn't agree with Paul however, and a recent heart attack of Vernon's made up Paul's mind to leave the books alone after just that one semester and get to work. Having honed important work ethic skills from summers past, he was a step ahead of most. He worked with Red, and then branched out on his own with his Uncle, Tommy Falk. He scraped together enough to rig out his own truck with a welding machine and he landed his first solo contract with Nunn & Shumway in 1973, he was 19. He later said, "if Ida messed that one up, Ida been washing dishes somewhere for sure". Needless to say, he didn't, and it would be the start of a flourishing career in the Water & Wastewater business in Texas. He worked with many of the main general contractors in the state as a subcontractor, and was known for his incredible skill of problem solving. His unique ideas on "fixes" were somewhat laughable at first, but they always worked, increasing the plausibility that his self anointed phrase, "best in the West Buddy Boy...", might actually hold some merit. He shared his knowledge with his two brothers, Mark and Matt, and later his son Micah, teaching them their trades, and allowing them to advance on in their own careers. All said and done, Paul was a welder, fitter, painter, underground pipe liner, truck driver, operator, metals fabricator, and teacher of all. He was the owner of three Companies during his run, and was a shining example of what the American Working Man resembled.

In 1975, love blossomed in Butler, MO where he happened upon Diane Strauch. They married and had a son, Micah Paul. As fate would have it, Paul & Diane would drift apart after 13 yrs. Paul then met Isis Mangum in the early '90's, and they too married. Isis, whom had Brandt Kelcey from a previous marriage, would soon give birth to two more Allison's, Nathan Wesley, and Lance Thomas. Isis and Paul too would eventually go their separate ways. Paul then found his one and only true love, Susan Sledge. They married in 2001, and he would share the remainder of his life with her. Susan was the prime caregiver for Paul in his later days, and stood by him with strength and support. She is to be honored as were his wishes this day.

Paul was a father, a husband, and grandfather. He was also a teacher, and friend, and confidant. He was a lifetime member of the NRA, Texas Rifle Association, Ducks Unlimited, and anything else that was sent to the house before Susan could get to it first, but most of all, one hell of a model American. His legacy lives on in big laughs, tall stories, and good scotch. It shall also live on in the lives of his greatest accomplishments, his four sons that he raised and leaves behind. May they cherish the memories they had, and follow the example that's been laid before them.

Paul leaves behind his beloved Susan Allison, mother and step-father, JoAnn and Richard Buterbaugh; sons, Micah and wife Mandy, Brandt and wife China, Nathan, and Lance; grandchildren, Charlee Mae, Cobee Jo, and Caylee Diane; brothers, Mark and wife Angela, and Matthew, and wife Vicki; sisters, Shirley Bird and husband Bill, Phyllis Boren and husband Steve, Becky Clift, Barby Brooks, and husband Frank, and countless nieces, nephews and extended family.

He was a big man with a big heart. Our family is honored to celebrate the life of Paul Wesley with all in attendance; a true testament to his character as a man.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, December 28, 2013 at 3:00pm at Grandview Funeral Home with Evangelist Dwight Hines officiating.