Paul Sisney

People who met Paul usually remembered him as a big bearded guy with a twinkle in his eye, much like Santa. Christmas was his favorite time of the year and he was always eager to start the decorating, shopping, cards, and eating. He was a creative and prolific gift-giver. As an only child and grandchild he went through life’s stages with a feeling that things would always work out, and for the most part, they did. He became a fervent Ducks fan while earning his PhD in social anthropology at the University of Oregon. His research required living in a thatch hut for a year in Vanuatu, and he vowed to never go camping again. Before grad school he worked at Mesa Verde National Park as a ranger and on several archaeological sites in the Midwest and Southwest. He had a passion for Hopi and Navajo art and for finding the humor and sentiment in daily life. He served as a staff sergeant in race relations and played basketball in the US Air Force, played on his high school football and basketball teams, and held season ski passes to Mt Bachelor for years. He was all ESPN all the time and nurtured a large sports memorabilia collection. He was proud of his 26-year marriage to Betsy McDowell and lived for traveling, in the US, Europe and Australia.

Paul was born and raised in Carbondale Illinois by loving parents Margurite “Maggie” and Paul “Hippo” Sisney. He graduated from Carbondale Community High School and Southern Illinois University.

He moved to Salem in 1980, started his career in the actuarial division at SAIF Corporation and closed it in the workers’ compensation compliance division for the State of Oregon. He was a self-employed writer publishing A History of Silver Falls State Park and was an outstanding email pal, keeping circles of old friends together with chatty updates. In retirement he coped with multiple health problems and ultimately took better care of his cat than himself. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Humane Society of the Willamette Valley or Heifer International Project. A Celebration of Life will be held at noon on Thursday, January 13 at Howell-Edwards-Doerksen with Rigdon-Ransom Funeral Directors.

Remembrances can be sent to www.Heifer.org or www.humanesociety.org.