Paul Kent Godfrey
September 1945 - September 2023
Paul has summited his last mountain. We will miss our Husband, Father, Grandfather, Uncle, and friend.
Paul was born in Lethbridge, Alberta to Joseph and Vera Elizabeth (Bessie) Godfrey on Sept. 11, 1945 and spent his childhood years in Picture Butte. His favourite job was working in the family movie theatre popping popcorn. In his last year of High School he decided to work for the Canadian Pacific Railway and became a Relief Agent spending his summers relieving agents throughout southern Alberta. He learned Morse code and knew rail engine’s just by looking at them.
In 1970, he began his studies to be a chemical engineer at the U Of A. He married Thelma (Dahl) Godfrey Sept. 4, 1971. Shortly after, his first child Kent was born and made his life significantly better. In the attempt to duplicate the magnificence of their first child they were blessed with 3 more children, Levi, Ryan, Stephen.
Paul enjoyed working at Dow Chemical after graduation. He did the drive from Sherwood Park to Fort Saskatchewan for 20 years. The friendships he made at Dow continued even after he began working for the Alberta Government encouraging companies to come and set up in Alberta. He relished the trade show trips. He would use them to boondoggle trips to NYC and Chicago to visit his son.
He loved travelling and seeing the world. Taking his family camping and hiking was a highlight of his life. There wasn’t a mountain range he didn’t want to climb. Sharing the success of summiting a mountain was a conversation he used as a teaching moment.
He served in his Church as a scoutmaster, a role he cherished. He loved taking the boys hiking and camping. He served the youth and young adults as a teacher and leader.
In the latter years of his life, he volunteered for Church Welfare Services for almost 10 years.
Paul loved playing in the Cosmopolitan Music Society Wednesday Band as a percussionist. He adored his associations with the people of the band. Paul’s example was the catalyst for frequent mini concerts in his basement by his grandchildren. His favourite thing of all was being a grandparent. His eyes would light up when he saw each child.
Paul is survived by his wife, Thelma, his sons Kent (Jennifer), Levi (Aubrey), Ryan (Rosalind), and Stephen (Sarah) and 8 beloved grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, brother and granddaughter Laraya.
Thank you to the U of A Hematology Ward for their excellent care of Paul as well as Dr. Belch and Joanne Hewitt and her team at the Cross Cancer Institute for their phenomenal care.
Donations can be made to the Myeloma Alberta Support Society. Myeloma Alberta Support Society
Services were held on Saturday, Sept 16, 2023, at 11:00 am at: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints In Sherwood Park.
If you were unable to attend services, the youtube link below is where you can view from a distance.
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