Paul Anthony Metcalf

Paul Metcalf, 75, (3/7/1950 - 8/25/2025) lived life loud, looked the part, and made sure no one ever forgot. With his signature white hair, year-round tan, and the presence of a senator, he didn't just enter a room, he took command of it. With a warm grin, a firm handshake, and a story already rolling, Paul stood out everywhere he went. To many, he was Big Paul. The Mayor. The Silver Fox. Powerhouse Paul. Nicknames that only hint at the force he was.

Paul did everything with authority and conviction. He never went halfway. Strait-laced one moment, no shortcuts, no fooling around, then completely off the wall the next: cracking a joke, pulling a prank, lip syncing into a wrench. Acting ridiculously, often at his own expense, always for a laugh. That unlikely mix of discipline and hilarity was pure Paul.

And no one spun a tale like he did. From his time on the Trans Alaska Pipeline to his years in nuclear power, his stories grew into family legend. Some were true, some probably almost true, all unforgettable. Paul didn't just live life, he performed it, narrated it, and gave the rest of us front row seats. Paul could talk. Lord, could he talk. A simple hello could unravel into a comedy routine, a sermon, and a TED Talk rolled into one. By the end you were laughing, shaking your head, and wondering how he managed to pull you in again.

He took pride in simple things done well. He approached life with the same intensity he brought to every story. His lawn was the best in the neighborhood. He was always on time, his clock ran five minutes fast, and he was right more often than anyone liked to admit. Meticulous in detail, gifted with numbers, stubbornly confident, dependable to the core, he carried old school grit and toughness yet remained as soft as they came.

All that energy burned brightest in his family. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Paula. Yes, Paul and Paula, a duo matched as perfectly as their names suggest; his former wife, Nancy, who helped shape his early years and remained an enduring part of his story; their sons Paul (Lisa), Anthony, and Michael (Heather); and six grandchildren-Lucas, AJ, Christian, Mikayla, Jordan, and Ariya. Each carrying on their spark of the Metcalf spirit in ways both subtle and unmistakable.

Above all, the cornerstone of Paul's life was unshakable faith. He wore it the way he lived: bold, real, and without apology. A sinner saved by grace, covered in the blood, Paul never missed a chance to share what Jesus had done for him. His grit and courage shone through even in his hard fight with Multiple Myeloma, facing cancer head on with humor, strength, and unwavering trust in Christ. He never lost his spirit, and he never stopped pointing others to the hope he carried.

If you ever laughed at his jokes, felt lifted by his honesty, or got caught in one of his famously long conversations, you already know who Paul was. And if he could leave one final invitation, it would be this: put your faith in Jesus Christ. The Savior who welcomed Paul home offers the same gift of grace to you. That is his greatest legacy, and the surest way to see him again.

The family will celebrate Paul privately, with gratitude, with laughter, and with enough stories to keep him alive for generations.