Paul Meredith Jacobs Jr.

(Jan. 4, 1933 - Dec.1, 2012)

Paul Meredith Jacobs Jr. died on the afternoon of Dec. 1, 2012 at Powell Valley Care Center. He was 79.

Paul was born Jan. 4, 1933 in Williamsport, Pa., to Paul Meredith Sr. and Hazel I (Towers) Jacobs.

He was raised and attended grade school and high school in Muncy, Pa. As a high school student Paul, affectionately known as Rusty for his rust colored hair, was very involved in athletics and was an outstanding wrestler, football and baseball player. Paul was also an honor student and was selected to the Pennsylvania Boys State Convention.

After graduation he attended college for a short stint in Fort Collins, Colo., at Colorado A&M. Determining that college was not for him, Paul went to work in the oil fields and ended up in Oklahoma, where he met the love of his life Alice May Owen. Paul and Alice were married in Shawnee, Okla., on Jan. 25, 1952. After a short stay in Oklahoma and Texas, Paul moved his bride to the Rocky Mountains and lived in small towns and communities in Wyoming, Montana, Colorado and Utah.

During this time they became parents to three sons, Calvin in Powell in 1953, Nevin in Cody in 1956 and Steven in Steamboat Springs, Colo. in 1958. In 1960 Paul moved his family to Powell to make his home for the next 52 years. Once in Powell two more children were added to the family, daughter Cheryl in 1961 and Paul III in 1963.

Paul continued to work in the oil patch on drilling rigs until the spring of 1963 when he became the owner/operator of the Mobile Service station on Coulter Ave. Along with pumping gas and being a mechanic, Paul became the Starcraft Boat Dealer. In the fall of 1967 Paul went back to work in the oil patch as a contract pumper until physical complications caused him to retire in 2002.

During Paul’s time in Powell along with working in the oil field he took on other part-time jobs, including pounding water-wells for lawn irrigation, was a contract school bus driver (driving his own bus) and starting a small spraying business, spraying weeds and trees and fertilizing lawns.

After his retirement in 2002 he and his bride were able to do a little bit of traveling. One trip took them and their fifth wheel trailer back to Pennsylvania for his 50th class reunion. Paul loved to hunt, fish and camp with his family. He loved high school and college athletics and was a big Panther and Trapper fan. He loved following and supporting his children in their athletic endeavors, as well as music, musicals and plays and continued following with his grandkids until he was physically unable.

Paul was tremendously intelligent and talented. He could do anything from plumbing to electrical to carpentry and woodworking. He was extremely talented as a mechanic. He could fix anything. He also loved to garden and raised a garden every year until he could no longer do it. Paul was not a very openly spiritual man, but he was definitely a believer and knew that God was ultimately in control of his life and all his strength, gifts and talents came from God as well as the blessings throughout his life.

In May 2012 Paul move into the Powell Valley Care Center as a resident to receive help on a more consistent basis with his ever increasing medical needs.

He was a great husband and father, and outstanding provider and a loyal friend. Paul had an undying love for his wife and children and absolutely loved being a grandfather. He will be truly missed.

Paul is survived by his wife Alice; sons Calvin, Nevin (Deb), Steven (Barbara) and Paul (Terri); and one daughter Cheryl (Ed), nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul Sr. and Hazel, one infant brother William H. and grandson Ryan Turner Jacobs.

Memorial services will be held Thursday, Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. at the First Southern Baptist Church.

Thompson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements and condolences may be sent to the family at www.thompsonfuneral.net or P.O. Box 807, Powell, WY 82435.