Connie Sue Paul

Connie Sue Paul (nee Thompson) July 11, 1951 - December 4, 2023 Beloved wife of Gary P. Paul; dear mother and mother-in-law of Alexis (Kyle) Melvin, Sasha (Ryan) Walchli and Andrew (Melissa) Paul; loving grandmother of Remi and Cooper Walchli, Vinny Melvin and Ellie Paul; dear daughter of the late George and Katherine Thompson; dear sister of Georgia Ann Seibel and Kelley (Kent) Rushin; dear sister-in-law of Denise (David) Harper; special friend of Anne Boyd and Frank Ikemeier; our dear aunt, great-aunt, cousin and friend. Connie, or Connie Sue as her family called her, was born on July 11, 1951, in St. Louis, Missouri, to the late George and Katherine Thompson. Connie grew up in University City and St. Ann, Missouri. She was the oldest of three girls, with her beloved sisters, Georgia Ann and Kelley following behind her. Connie had a close bond with her sisters, Georgia Ann and Kelley. The way they worked together to care for their father during the past few years was a model for all families. Connie and her husband Gary had their first date on Memorial Day in 1967. After their first date, they simply stayed together. Their love for each other extended over five decades. They were married at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Overland, Missouri, on February 23, 1974. Connie and Gary looked forward to celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2024. In the early years of their marriage, Connie supported Gary through his last semester of undergraduate and then through law school. She encouraged him as he started the journey through the legal profession. Gary always was grateful for Connie’s confidence in him. They were blessed with three wonderful children, Alexis, Sasha, and Andrew. Connie proudly watched and encouraged them as they became great citizens, individuals, and parents. Connie passed on several traits to her children. Alexis inherited her looks–they could have won a mother-daughter look-alike contest; Sasha shares her passion for education; and Andrew has her personality, although he would dispute this. Connie was also very happy that her children married such extraordinary spouses. Connie and Gary were content with each other, staying around St. Louis, and they enjoyed family events. They attended all of their children’s school activities such as baseball, softball, soccer, basketball, football, and lacrosse games. They were proud that all of their children attended college and obtained degrees. Anyone who knew Connie knew that school was a major part of her life. She attended Our Redeemer Lutheran School, Lutheran High School North, and Ritenour High School, graduating in 1969. After high school, Connie enrolled at the University of Missouri – St. Louis. She received a bachelor’s degree and two master’s degrees in education. Connie was just a few credits and a thesis short of a doctorate. In the mid-1970’s, teaching jobs were hard to find due to the amount of new graduates in the field. Connie had worked for Walgreens during high school and college. Unable to find a teaching position, she was accepted into the Walgreens management trainee program. After starting the training program, Connie and her mother-in-law went to a farm auction in out state Missouri. While at the auction she had an unexpected encounter with a Parkway School District principal who was looking for a new teacher. He offered her a position and Connie accepted. Connie had a thirty plus year career at Parkway starting in 1972. During her tenure, Connie served as a teacher’s assistant, student teacher, elementary school teacher, and an administrative intern. She was then Assistant Principal at Ross Elementary and went on to become Parkway’s Assistant Director of Human Resources, Director of Certified Personnel, and Director of Human Resources. She received the Pillar of Parkway Award and met many close friends during her career. Several of these friendships have lasted to this day. Connie’s retirement from Parkway did not last long. Shortly after she left Parkway, her first grandchild Remi was born. Cooper, Vinny, and Ellie followed. She embraced her new career as “Nonnie” with enthusiasm. Connie, of course, had the smartest, best looking, and most well-behaved grandchildren. She also deeply loved her dogs and grand dogs: Mickey, Gigi, Paz, Hershey, Snickers, Clarke, Arnold, Harriett, Lester, Marley, Floyd, Dudley, Tucker, Conrad, Beyonce, and Dwight. Even during retirement, Connie kept learning. She became a talented quilt maker and greatly enjoyed embroidery, placing countless initials, names, and monograms on clothing for family, friends, and numerous others she did not even know. Connie also spent some of her time as the fairest of fair weather Cardinals fans. She constantly complained about them; yet, she took in most games. She had an unusual way of watching them. If the Cardinals were batting, she would watch the game on television. If the opposing team was at bat, she would watch the computer simulated game on her phone. In recent years, Connie enjoyed spending time at her condominium at the Lake of the Ozarks. Unfortunately, health limitations prohibited her to travel there most of 2023. Her last memory of the condominium was a good one, though. She celebrated Ellie’s first birthday with Gary, Andrew, Melissa, and Ellie. The family would like to express their appreciation and thanks for the extraordinary doctors, nurses, and staff at Mercy Hospital–St. Louis. They provided excellent and compassionate care to Connie and her family during her illness. Visitation at the Ortmann Stipanovich Funeral Home, 12444 Olive Blvd., Creve Coeur, Sun., Dec. 10 from 2-6 p.m. Funeral Service on Mon., Dec. 11, 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment Bellerive Gardens Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Gateway Vizsla Club c/o Anne Albin, 2445 Carter Road, Moscow Mills, MO 63362. Please reference “for rescue” with donation. Ortmann Stipanovich Funeral Home www.osfuneralhomes.com

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Connie Sue Paul

July 11, 1951 - December 4, 2023