Paul James Duffley, Jr.

Decatur ~ Paul James Duffley, Jr. 81, beloved husband, father, and grandfather left to be with our heavenly father on Thursday, February 20th 2020, following a courageous battle with emphysema and heart disease, with his loving and always attentive bride at his side.

Funeral is 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 22, 2020 at Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur with burial in New Harp Cemetery. Family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Friday at the Funeral Home.

Rev. Doyle Wade will officiate.

Military Honors provided by the Wise County Veterans Group.

Paul was born Nov 29, 1938 in Boston, Massachusetts to Paul and Marion (Judkins) Duffley, Sr. Paul graduated from St. Johns Preparatory School in Danvers, Massachusetts followed by one year at Burdett College. Upon leaving college, he began a 20-year active duty career in the U.S. Navy serving on six different ships: The USS Outpost AGR10, USS Telfair APA210, USS New Jersey BB62, USS John S. McCain DDG36, USS Turner Joy DD951, U SS Horne CG30. After his honorable discharge from the Navy, Paul managed the Lubbock and Midland offices for the Service Insulation Co. for four years, leaving them to start his own company: D & T cabinets of Midland. In 1983, he moved to San Angelo, owning and operating both Exxon and Texaco service stations with wrecker services. After his retirement from service stations, Paul relocated to Wise County, working at Wal-Mart as a support manager. It was while working at Wal-Mart that he met the love of his life, his bride, Jacqui, who brought light into his life for the last 13 years of his life.

Paul didn’t know what the word “retirement” meant, volunteering his time and services. With Habitat for Humanity, he helped build 17 different homes, working along President Carter one of these homes. He was Commander of the Wise Co. Veterans Group for 3 years and oversaw the building of the Wise Count Veterans Park.

Paul took pride being a charter member of the Old County Church in Bowie, Texas.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents; his daughters, Cynthia Hawkins and Lisa Minor Geary; and his sister, Maureen.

Paul is survived by his bride, of 11 years, Jacqueline Duffley of Decatur; his mother-in-law, Wanda Monroe; his daughter, Bambi Schoenfield and husband Jay of Montgomery, Texas; his sons, Robert "Bobby" Duffley and wife Lori of Midwest City, Oklahoma, Vernon Phelps and wife Teresa of Carson, Iowa, Travis Duffley and wife Tina of San Angelo, Texas; his grandchildren, Angelica Phelps, Wesley Phelps, Daniela Ramirez, Sarah Limon, Kelly Bell, Amber Kuykendall, Daniel Minor, Lindsey Hurt, Natalie Morris, Andrew Duffley, Matthew Duffley, Marina Torres, Samantha Martinez, Robert Duffley, Jr. and Joshua Duffley; and 8 great-grandchildren.

At family's request, memorials may be made to the Wise County Veterans Group.