Donald Paul

Donald Presley Paul sadly passed away on April 11, 2025, at the age of 77. He was born near Webster Groves, Missouri on January 22, 1948, to the parents of Shirley and Presley Paul, and lived a life full of adventure and outdoor experiences.

In his youth he played baseball, developing a life-long love of the game and his favorite team—the St. Louis Cardinals. As a young man, he worked summers with his grandfather, Pops. Later, he took on the role of assistant director for “Wendigo”, a Canadian camp in the Algonquin park for young men, accessible only by canoe. During this time, he also served as a guide for Camp Northway, created in 1906 as a wilderness camp for girls. It became a home away from home for both Don and his best friend and camp owner, Brookes Prewitt. This dynamic duo empowered hundreds of young women while becoming local legends; their adventures are still recounted at evening campfires in Northway.

As a result of his experiences there, both of his daughters, Lesley Paige Paul and Emily Elizabeth Plane, and his step daughters Synnove Marte Robinson, Austri-Mina Puckett and Torlin Inga Torgersen attended Northway. All five girls gained a deep respect for the outdoors and nature after many summers spent canoeing and experiencing life, learning independence in the wild.

Don received his law degree at Vanderbilt Law School, and subsequently started as a young attorney in the small law firm of Parker, Leech, Paul and Mink, moving later to Miller & Martin LLC of Nashville, but his favorite experiences wereduring his long term work with the Law firm of Butler Snow, LLC. He enjoyed sharing stories with law firm friends, and achieved a high level of trust and respect. Altogether, he worked as a trial attorney for 50 years, and was proud of his contributions.

Don had a great love of adventure and the outdoors. Some of his favorite memories were from hunting in South Africa, travels to Greece, and later with his wife Deborah Torgersen-Paul they visited over 13 countries, many on European river and ocean-going trips across the ancient ports of Europe and the UK. He was passionate about his hunting trips to North Dakota for ducks, pheasant and deer, and his deer hunting successes at the family cabin with his brothers-in-law in Tennessee. Many of his mounted deer heads adorn the walls there as evidence of his devotion to quality wildlife management.

Don deeply loved his daughters and step-daughters. Perhaps in his most courageous adventure yet, he took on the role of father to five girls. He provided them with the love, guidance, and stability they needed most. He “put up” with his wife Deborah’s constant traveling for her profession in biomedical research with wit and patience, welcoming her home with a “Hi Dr. Babe”, whenever she returned.

Don is survived by his wife Deborah, daughters Lesley Paul, Emily Plane (Michael), step-daughters Synnove Robinson (Nicholas, and grandchildren Cole, Lorelei and Eleanor)), Austri-Mina Puckett (Jim and grandson Didrik), TorlinTorgersen (Joseph Starr), brother Raymond Paul (Bonnie), and cousin “uncle” Mike Gollub.

A memorial service and reception will be held beginning 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 17 at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 4715 Harding Pike, Nashville Tennessee. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the National Parks Foundation in Don’s honor