The family of Paul Eledge, 80, a loving husband, a beloved father, esteemed Papa, & retired businessman, are saddened to announce his death, Sunday, September 22, 2024, surrounded by love.
To those who grew up with him, are from Revilo, TN or gave birth to him, he was known as “Horace Paul”.
To those whom he married, fathered or met as an adult, he was known by his preference, as simply “Paul”.
Paul was born in Lawrence County, TN, to Barnie & Clara Eledge, in July of 1944, during the very patriotic era of World War II. He was welcomed into the world by grandparents, Earlie & Maude Garner, and Joe & Emily Eledge, and older brother, Billy Joe. A few years later, he, in turn, welcomed his little sister, Patricia, into his expanding world.
He grew up in Revilo, picking cotton, helping manage fields, cattle & pigs, and, as his mother always described him, being kind and thoughtful to others.
While Paul would never be described as particularly scholarly, he, nonetheless, persevered and, following completion of his elementary education at Revilo School, which is now only a memory by an ever-shrinking population, he graduated in the early 1960s from Lawrence County High School, in the buildings now known as E.O. Coffman Middle School.
Not long afterwards, while working at the local Democrat-Union newspaper, his brother, Billy, & Billy’s future wife, Peggy, introduced him to one of her beauty school classmates, Doris Jenkins, who soon became his wife.
Paul & Doris had two children, a son, Jerry, born in 1966, followed by his precious daughter, Susanne, in 1967.
Paul was a dedicated husband and father- supporting his children’s hobbies, school & sports endeavors, as well as his wife’s love of country music. During his career with Murray Ohio Manufacturing Company, he always treated his family to a well-earned, annual two-week vacation, like clockwork, the last week of June & first week of July. Frequent destinations included Florida, visiting extended family, Disney World, Sea World, and various beaches along the coastline; and, the Sevierville, TN area visiting more family and enjoying the fresh, mountain air of his ancestors, kitschy entertainment, including authentic Cherokee Indians and caged bears, back when those things were not politically incorrect, and Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg were small enough to enjoy with leisure.
Paul also was able to pursue his love of antique cars- particularly certain Chevrolet Impalas of the 1960s and got much pleasure from having his cars restored, showing them and riding around the back roads of his youth.
As the years marched on, he became an entrepreneur, leaving Murray Ohio without reluctance, and opening Eledge Nursery, where he nurtured his love of plants, the outdoors and meeting people, and, of course, being his own boss and star employee. This is also where he proved one does not need to be an avid reader to acquire an encyclopedia of knowledge, demonstrated by his extensive expertise of plants, propagation, landscaping, soils, fertilizers and pest control & a bunch of other stuff this writer is sure to have left out. As such, and with his honest nature, he became a trusted resource to his customers.
Paul lovingly supported his children as they simultaneously pursued education at Samford University’s McWhorter School of Pharmacy, and proudly saw them graduate on the same day in 1990.
As his children spread their wings, buying homes & beginning families of their own, he was always generous with his time, on hand for help moving, advice, nice meals out, and bestowing the gift of stunning landscaping at each home.
Together with his wife, they welcomed three grandsons, Brad, Andrew & Ryan Eledge, and a beautiful granddaughter, Harper Rose Ballard.
After courageously and lovingly caring for Doris, during an extremely challenging and extended illness, he became a widower during the first month of 2002.
In the years following, he welcomed another grandson, Nathan Eledge, and three more Ballard girls- Kirby, Dori & Eagan.
He immensely enjoyed spending time with them, even while running his nursery and being sure to make each one feel special.
Soon after his last granddaughter was born, he met the second love of his life, Mary Jeanette Neal, known as “Jeanette” or, maybe, more often, “Mama J”.
They were married in the fall of 2008, and he gained two more sons, Ken Siems and Tripp Weigel, a daughter-in-law, Jeanea, and 5 additional grandchildren- Mallory, Levi & Jonathan Weigel and Laurel & Forrest Siems.
Early in their marriage, they moved to the northern part of Lawrence County, in the middle of Amish country, to be near his newly expanded family.
Soon, he found himself surrounded by lots of little boys and a couple of girls, as the grandchildren began creating the next generation.
Paul enjoyed his retirement- getting to know and love his Amish neighbors, enjoying curating his extensive knife collection, as well as his Massey Ferguson & John Deere miniature metal tractor collection. He especially enjoyed their mini-farm and tending to cows, goats, and finally chickens and horses, along with honeybees, barnyard cats and a little tinkering in his garden.
You could often find him on his Ranger, with a grandchild or two, making the rounds of this little slice of heaven he created with Jeanette.
Paul’s gentleness, humor and kindness continued throughout his life, leaving everyone who met him a little better than they were before.
Paul, even though losing much during his lifetime, including son, Ken Siems, his brothers-in-law he called brothers- Doyle Jenkins and Gene Neal, and close friend, Benny Wilson, he always persevered and enjoyed a fulfilling, meaningful life, surrounded by his people.
Celebrating the life of this wonderful man are his wife, Jeanette Eledge, his “Princess”, aka, daughter, Susanne Eledge, loving son, Tripp Weigel & wife, Jeanea, six granddaughters- Harper Franklin & husband, Kaeden, Kirby Belcastro & husband, Tyler, Dori Ballard, Eagan Ballard, Mallory Osborn & husband, Derek, and Laurel Huff & husband, Brandon; three grandsons- Levi Weigel & wife, Sara, Jonathan Weigel & wife, Kati, and Forrest Siems. Blessed to get to know and love their great-grandfather & to celebrate his life, are his great-grandchildren- Piper, Aerosyn & Ellerbee Franklin, Lawson, Mason & Gibson Weigel, Cameron & Corbie Osborn; Averi, Hudson & Noah Weigel and William Huff.
Additionally, honored to celebrate his life are his sister, Patricia Huntley & husband, Ted, sister-in-law Donna Jenkins, several nephews and nieces, and many friends and family.
This joyful celebration of a life well lived, will be held Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at 3:00 PM at Neal Funeral Home in Lawrenceburg, TN. Visitation will be just prior to the service, from 1:00-3:00 PM.
Hosting the service is nephew, Gary Jenkins. Family friend, Bill Adams, and daughter, Susanne Eledge will join the celebration and his granddaughters, Harper, Kirby, Dori & Eagan, have a special tribute planned.
Paul will be laid to rest in a beautifully understated casket made by Amish neighbors from reclaimed barn wood with iron handles.Appropriately so, six Amish neighbors will humbly serve as their good friend’s pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourage supporting Paul’s passion for rescuing abused and unwanted horses (three of which, he cared for on his farm) by donating to Horse Plus Humane Society at https://HorsePlus.org or by calling 888-474-7077 or via mail to P.O. Box 485 Hohenwald, TN 38462. Please include in comments that your donation is in memory of Paul Eledge, so his family can show their appreciation.
While Paul’s family is devastated by his loss, they are so very grateful to have had the pleasure of sharing life with this magnificent man and allowing a little piece of him to live on through all who knew and loved him.
