Funeral Services for Frank Paul, Age 89 of Cabool, Missouri will be held on Tuesday, June 9th, 2026 at The First Baptist Church of Cabool, Cabool, Missouri, beginning at 11:00 AM. Visitation will be held prior to the service, beginning at 10:00 AM. Interment will be in The Cabool Cemetery, Cabool, Missouri. Contributions may be made to the Ozarks Famiy YMCA/Cabool at the link below or left at the funeral home
Frank Paul, 89, of Cabool, Missouri, passed away peacefully on June 2, 2026. He was a larger-than-life force, and cherished as a husband, brother, son, father, grandfather, and friend. He will be deeply missed for his fierce devotion to his family, his stories and shared laughter, commitment to his community, and the love and energy he brought to those around him.
Frank was born on August 30, 1937 to Walter and Flava Paul and grew up in Van Buren, Missouri. As the youngest of eight children, Frank developed a deep appreciation early on for the importance of family, a value he carried forward throughout his life.
As a young man, Frank became a legendary basketball player, earning a Missouri state high school record for points scored during his career–-and that was before there was a three-point line! During high school, when his parents considered moving the family to Washington state for better job opportunities, Frank’s basketball coaches were determined to keep him and his brother Bill in Van Buren, and quickly scrambled to secure their father a school custodian position.
Although the spotlight found him for his basketball prowess, Frank was also an accomplished student, and after graduation in 1955, earned a college scholarship. The first in his family to attend college, Frank went on to graduate from Drury University with both his Bachelors and Masters degrees.
Frank married Mary Ann Randolph (now Paul) on October 18, 1958. Together they created a wonderful life rich in faith, hard work, family, and community. Frank and Mary Ann had two daughters, Debbie and Becky, and shared 67 years together. Their devotion to each other, shared sense of respect, and spirit of fun and laughter remains an inspiration to their family.
Frank worked for several years in school administration in both Republic and Cabool, and in 1970, he and Mary Ann purchased Cabool Florist, which they owned and operated together for 31 years. He proudly embraced Cabool as his adopted hometown, giving back through his church, local organizations, and volunteer coaching. He built lasting friendships in Cabool, and in his later years, became a devoted regular at the YMCA. Although he rarely missed a workout, some might say the fellowship–and occasional storytelling session–was every bit as important as the exercise itself.
If someone were to ask Frank what he was most proud of, he would have easily answered that his pride and joy was his family. He relished time with Debbie and Mark and Becky and Mike, and was the proudest grandpa anyone has ever met. Frank loved spending time with his grandkids Emily, Nate, and Drew, and was there to celebrate every milestone along the way–birthdays, graduations, careers, and weddings. In the last few years, he became a great-grandfather to three precious girls – Sophia, Ronona, and Isla. Nothing tickled him like stories and photos of those girls. Even with weakening eyesight, Frank never missed a chance to marvel over photos of his grandkids and great-granddaughters. His love for his family remained constant through the end of his life.
Throughout his life, Frank achieved so much. He was a record-setting athlete, an educator, a business owner, and a respected member of his community. Yet those accomplishments tell only part of his story. He measured success not by awards or accolades, but by the people he loved, the friendships he enjoyed, and the family he helped build. His legacy lives on in the generations that follow him and in the countless lives he touched through his kindness, humor, service, and unwavering devotion to those around him
