Colleen Paul
Colleen A.(Gallagher) Paul, 78, of Butte, formerly of Charlo, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at the respiratory hospital in Post Falls, Idaho, after a prolonged battle with cardiopulmonary illness.
Colleen was born on Nov. 9, 1933, in Charlo to Mabel and Frank Gallagher. The seventh child in a family of 13 children, she was raised on the family farm west of Charlo. She graduated from Charlo High School in 1952. After high school, she worked at Holy Family Hospital in St. Ignatius for two years, and then attended the College of Great Falls where she studied business and office administration. In 1957, she married the late John Paul and settled in Butte.
In the early 1970s, Colleen returned to college, earning a bachelor’s degree and a teaching certificate in history from the University of Montana-Western. She taught for a few years in Arlee and in Butte before returning to Western to receive a master’s degree in library science. She then returned to work as a librarian in Butte,finishing her teaching career at Butte’s East Middle School in 2010.
Colleen had no children of her own, but she often spoke of the students that she helped get through the educational maze as her children.
Colleen’s closest affiliation was with her church. She was a parishioner at both St. John’s Parish and St. Ann’s Parish in Butte.
Colleen was preceded in death by John Paul; by her parents, Frank and Mabel Gallagher, and by five sibling, sisters, Betty Ann, Genevieve (Genie) and Mabel (Doll), and brothers, George and Seumas (Jim), and many other relatives and friends.
She is survived and missed by her sisters, Fran Keith, Patricia Ague, Rita Runkel and Ethel McCready; her brothers, John, Ed, and Dan Gallagher; by many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends; and by her special longtime friend, Norman Slette.
A rosary-vigil service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 13, at the Charlo Catholic Church, followed by the Funeral Mass at 1 p.m. Burial will be in Mountain View/Calvary Cemetery in Ronan. A reception will follow at the church.
Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory considers it a privilege to care for the Paul family. Messages of condolences may be sent to the family online at www.groganfuneralhome.com.
I had the pleasure of working with Colleen for 15 years.
She was always pleasant and I enjoyed her company very much…
My deepest sympathy to her family and friends..
Sincerely,
Gail Jory
I am very sorry to here the bad news Colleen was loved by all of us at East .I really enjoyed working with Colleen for 21 years.I will miss her greatly.
I am very sorry to hear of the passing of Colleen. Colleen was a very important member of the East Middle School family and will be dearly missed.
Colleen was a wonderful lady.
I had an opportunity to visit with Colleen when she was planning her retirement from the district a few years back. She shared with me the fact that although she never had any children of her own she didn’t feel childless as God had blessed her with so many children over the years through her career in education. I thought that was a wonderful statement to make.
God Bless you all!
I am very saddened by the news of Colleen’s passing. She was always a good friend and wonderful colleague. She has been missed by the students of East Middle School. My deepest sympathy goes out to her loving family.
Colleen was truly a treasure to the students she worked with and the colleagues she worked with. I was fortunate enough to not only to be both, but also one of her supervisors. I grew up with Mrs. Paul in my life and I feel blessed to be influenced by her example of hard work, quick witt and humor, and most important, her love and care for children. Her memory will always bring a smile to the faces of those that were lucky to have her as a friend. That is her legacy. She and her family are in my thoughts and prayers. God Bless.
I am so very sorry to hear of Colleen’s passing. She and I were teachers at East for many years and I was always impressed with her knowledge and her caring nature with all the students.
You have my deepest sympathy.
Robin Cockhill
We are all a little better for having known Colleen. We are saddened by her passing and will keep her in our thoughts.
Judy Jonart and the Butte School District Curriculum Office
I had many years of working with Colleen at East Middle School. She was a very special person and enjoyed working in the library and was great to the students. She took some of the students that didn’t really fit in and she went out of her way to make them feel special and safe.
Thoughts and prayers go out to her family at this difficult time.
Collen was the first to work and the last to leave. she would go to the school all summer. Collen will be remembered. she was a very sweet person. My deepesy sympathy to her family.
I am sorry to hear about Colleen, she had an insightfulness to life that is truly lost in todays society.
I only had the pleasure of getting to know Colleen during her last few years with the Butte School District; but knew from her great work ethic and respect from her peers, that she was a special person that will be missed. My deepest sympathy to her friends and family.
My deepest sympathies to Colleen’s family. I enjoyed visiting with her when I was at East. We became friends over the years. My condolences to her family.
Colleen was such a part of East Middle School. She was a tireless worker and loved sharing her library knowledge with everyone. She had such a caring heart. Her beautiful complexion and sweet smile will forever be in my memory. Rest in Peace my friend.
Deb Shea
It was a pleasure to know Colleen. She was a kind lady who loved all of the students whom she worked with in Butte School District. She made a huge difference in many students lives by spending extra time with them and by making a significant personal connection. Colleen made me smile with many of her compasionate stories. Colleen will be missed. My deepest sympathy to her family and friends.
I worked Colleen for 21 years at East Middle School. She was dedicated to the school and the Butte School District, but her true passion was her students. She went out of her way to help children. She shared her knowledge, but more importantly she shared her kindness with them. I am going to miss her, but her spirit will always be part of East.
Please accept my condolence. Read something today, Colleen would like that.
I worked with Colleen for many years at East Middle School. The students were always her first concern. She would often bring students to my office when they were not feeling well or when she thought they needed special attention. We had many talks–she was such an interesting person, very intelligent. I will always remember her great compasion for the less fortunate and especially the students. I will miss her.
My deepest condolences to the family of Colleen Paul on your loss. Colleen was a wonderful and sweet person. I had the priviledge of working with Colleen at East Middle School in Butte. We had many fine conversations about family and friends. She knew my family from her years at St. John’s. Her beautiful smile and shining eyes will be missed.
Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do… but how much love we put in that action. Mother Teresa
She was a wonderful person to be around.. She LOVED the kids and would do anything for them….
Colleen was a great lady and cared so much for others. She had a kind heart and was always willing to help. She had many great stories and always time to share. She will be missed by so many!
Amy
I had the pleasure of working with Colleen at West Junior High and later at East Middle School. Her love of books and helping students find the ultimate novel was her greatest joy. I am very sorry to hear of her passing.
Colleen was often the first person I would see in the morning when I came to school, or the last person I would see when I was leaving at the end of the day. I would always say “Good Morning Mrs. Paul” or “See you tomorrow Mrs. Paul”and she would always respond by saying “Mrs. Paul was my mother-in-law, my name is Colleen.” She always had a great sense of humor and always looked on the bright side of things.
Colleen was the most dedicated teacher that I have ever known. She loved being at the school and loved being around fellow teachers and her students. She would recount many a story of her times teaching and always put a smile on my face. We will miss her with fond memories.
We’ve all lost something special with the passing of Colleen. I was fortunate to have worked with her in the East Library during the first seven years of my career. She became a true friend.
I have many fond memories of working with Colleen. She was a truly kind hearted person and helped many many students. My condolences and prayers go out to the Family. Karen Alley
Colleen was a dedicated educator for the Butte School District and was a true asset to the students and community. Colleen will be missed and my sympathy goes out to her entire family.
J.R. Richardson
Business Manager
Butte School District #1
I feel so fortunate that I was able to change direction in my teaching career so I could work with Colleen the last few years of hers, before her retirement from East Middle School. I got to know her when we were working together on her retirement party. It was then I found out she was a classy “lady” that loved her students, her family, her church and especially her parents. She was very fond of her childhood years, being raised near Charlo, knowing her parents gave the family a loving and solid home. We miss her at East, as she would bring that caring spirit with her and share it with all of us. My sympathies to all the family and may God Bless you all.