Paul Dismang

Paul Dismang was a devoted Christian, committed husband and loving father. In life, he wanted to know everyone and wanted to like everyone he met. His goal was to make the world a little smaller. If you stopped to get gas and Paul happened to be at the same station, chances are you were friends by the time you finished filling up. Never wanting to be a stranger, he gave every passing motorist a neighborly wave from the steering wheel.

Professionally, Paul was admired as a strong, compassionate leader. A former student summed up his demeanor with three adjectives: gentle, kind and fierce. After a successful career as a beloved coach and principal, Mr. D spent his retirement honing his skills as a semiprofessional angler and hunter. Paul loved to give gifts and he loved forgotten things. He combined these interests by gathering neat, unique items or personal treasures, giving them new life, and then sharing them with others and outlining their history. Those who knew him well can vouch that there was absolutely nothing that he couldn't do, fix or figure out. Every visit with his six grandchildren resulted in new stories of his feats and abilities that would bring proud smiles with each retelling. He was nothing short of a walking legend, whose "dad strength" never waned. He lived his life by his motto: "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." Always to the best of his ability and with his whole heart, no one worked or played harder. There is no better example of a life well-lived.

Paul Dean Dismang passed away at his home in El Paso, Ark., on July 7, 2024, at the age of 76. He was born in Doniphan, Mo., and was the son of the late Rex Ray Dismang and Nancy C. Dismang.

Paul is survived by the love of his life and wife of 57 years, Nancy (Barnes) Dismang; his four children, William and his wife Cynthia, Jonathan and his wife Mandy, Kyle and his wife Sneha, and Elizabeth and her husband Mitchell; Son of our Hearts, George (Maria) Cotanidis; and his six grandchildren, Cole, Kylee, Cade, Sawyer, Yogi and Kai Dismang, and Harry and Alexander Cotanidis. He is also survived by his siblings: Norma (Don) Wood-Oliver, Tammy Dismang and Pam (Chad) Brown. He was preceded in death by his parents, mother-in-law and father-in-law, Allen and Anna Barnes, and brothers, James, Rex Carl, and Gary Dismang.

The visitation and funeral will be at the Skaggs Church of Christ in Pocahontas, Ark. Visitation will be Friday, July 12, from 5-7 p.m. and the funeral service will be Saturday, July 13, at 10 a.m. with burial to follow at Ingram Cemetery in Supply.

Services are under the direction of Hope Gardens Funeral Home in Pocahontas, Arkansas.

The pallbearers are William Dismang, Jonathan Dismang, Kyle Dismang, Tim Bennett, Larry Duffey and Dickie Jarrett.

Honorary pallbearers are Sawyer Dismang, Yogi Dismang, Kai Dismang, Cole Dismang, Cade Dismang, Charles Ford Hooten and Tim Bennett.