With close family by his side, Paul Gordon Sully passed away peacefully on March 8, 2021 in Canmore, Alberta.
Paul was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario on April 26, 1939. The only son of Jessie Elizabeth and Roy Gordon Sully, Paul grew up with his four younger sisters in the north end of Winnipeg. Despite the modest circumstances of the times, Paul's childhood was spent enjoying a loving and happy family life. After graduating from Daniel McIntyre Collegiate High School, Paul spent a year working to save up for his first year of college. His devoted mother, Jessie, woke early every morning to iron a shirt for Paul, as she was certain that her son was destined to make something of himself.
Paul graduated from United College with a Bachelor of Arts and, more importantly, with a lovely girlfriend named Carolyn Cowlishaw. After working briefly as an accounting clerk, he set his sights on training to become an accountant, and on registration day Paul arrived at the University of Manitoba ready to sign up as planned. Once there however, he couldn't help but notice how very long the lineup for the Accounting Program was, and how short the line up to register for Law School was. So Law School it was!
Paul graduated with a law degree from University of Manitoba in 1967,
a time when articling positions in Winnipeg were in short supply. Carolyn suggested moving to Edmonton. Shortly thereafter Paul interviewed at a well-known local law firm, Brownlee Fryett, where he was quickly hired by another recent hire, Ernie Walter. Paul was called to the Bar in 1968 and built a successful career at Brownlee Fryett, practising utilities law and representing many smaller municipalities throughout Alberta. His parents, Jessie and Roy, were extremely proud of their son.
Paul and Carolyn married in 1968. They settled into a home on Westridge Ravine in Edmonton and welcomed four children into their family. Paul's kids remember a childhood in which their Dad worked
a lot while they ran free-range with their friends in the ravine. Family
life included camping and fishing trips, ski trips to Jasper, kids' hockey and soccer games, and plenty of backyard barbecues. When he wasn't working or at one of his children's events, Paul found time to indulge
in his passion for classical and Blues music, The Westridge years went by quickly.
In 1992, Paul was appointed as Queen's Counsel and in 1998
he was sworn in as a judge of the Provincial Court of Alberta. Paul's swearing-in ceremony was attended by many long-time friends and colleagues, such as Ernie Walter who was by then the Chief Judge of Alberta, as well as Paul's immediate family, including his first grandchild. The Honourable Judge Paul G. Sully represented the Provincial Court of Alberta until his retirement in 2014.
During his career as a judge and throughout his retirement, Paul and Carolyn were blessed with nine more grandchildren. Over the years, they enjoyed travelling with friends and families to wonderful destinations such as eastern Canada, Italy, Croatia and the U.K.
When he was working, Paul liked to start his day with an early morning meeting with his Coffee Club, a diverse group of friends who met to discuss and debate the issues of the day. Paul was a prolific reader, and retirement afforded him more time to read and listen to music. For many years he was a fixture at the Saturday afternoon
Blues performance at Edmonton's Commercial Hotel on Whyte Avenue.
In 2019, after more than 50 years in Edmonton, Paul and Carolyn moved to a home near the Bow River in Canmore to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Paul had always said he liked to be near
the water.
Paul will be fondly remembered by his wife of 52 years, Carolyn, as well as many close friends, colleagues and family members, including his sisters and brothers-in law Betty-Anne, Rosemary and Murray, Lynda, Margaret and Phil, his sisters-in law Eleanor and Doreen, and cousins Gordon and Anne. Paul's children, Maureen and Colin, Ryan and Jill, Merrin and James, and Kyle will keep Paul's memory alive for his ten grandchildren, Alexander, Elisabeth, Waverly, Parker, Hutton, Anna, Isla, Juliana, Amelia and Miles.
Paul was a truly wonderful son, brother, husband, father, "grandpaw" and friend. He was known for his generosity, kindness, intellectual curiosity and humility. Those who knew Paul know that he was an exceptional person, a true one-of-a-kind. We will always be proud of him, and we will miss him dearly.
Friends wishing to remember Paul are encouraged to make a donation, in his memory, to The Women in Need Society in Edmonton (WINhouse) at https://winhouse.org/how-to-help/donate/
Services provided by Russ Reynolds and Bow River Funeral Service.
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