Paul Richard Eakins

Paul Richard Eakins, 78, of Greeley, passed away Sunday, March 7, 2021 at his home. Paul was born September 9, 1942 in Los Angeles, California to Horace Samuel Eakins, Jr. and Margaret (Hillman) Eakins. He married Jo Ann Frost on April 18, 2014. He was previously married to Nancy Jean Shedd.

Paul’s education in finance and public accounting started at Colorado University in Boulder and his Masters degree was completed at Michigan State. Following in his father’s footsteps as an accountant, his first job was at Gates Rubber Company.

A few years after having children, Paul quit Gates to pursue his dream of starting his own CPA firm. He and his family relocated to Castle Rock, where he formed Eakins & Co. PC, which he successfully operated for over 30 years. When asked what he did for a living, he would say, “I was a CPA: cut, paste, and assemble.”

Paul was very involved in the community. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary. He was a man of strong faith and active in the church.

Paul’s personal interests were broad and varied. Moving to the country outside Castle Rock enabled him to raise livestock, ranging from cattle to chickens and turkeys. He was an avid coin collector, stamp collector and he enjoyed playing cribbage.

Paul was also an accomplished square dancer. He was very active in the close-knit community, skilled to a level where he had traveled the country with various exhibition teams, but also known for simply elevating the fun on any local Tuesday night dance. This is where he met his wife, Jo Ann.

Finally, one of Paul’s most important activities was serving as a volunteer on the Winter Park Ski Patrol. From his first “test” to get on the patrol (carrying a toboggan down the hill) to the 40+ years that followed, ski patrol defined him as a person. Paul loved the beauty of the mountains and the joy of skiing. But fundamentally, he was drawn to helping those in need. Even after he could not run sleds any more, he served as a veteran patroller to continue assisting in any capacity possible. For those who knew him, it is easy to conjure a picture of Paul, sitting on the Sunspot bench beside the emergency phone, ready to respond to any call that came through.

Paul is survived by his wife, Jo Ann Eakins; sons Timothy Brian (Danielle) Eakins and Steven Paul (Erin McMahon) Eakins; sister Marge (Stu) Johnson; grandchildren Myla Louise Eakins, Kate Patricia Eakins, and Thomas Eakins; and step-daughters Susan Willems, Stephanie Weddell, Carolyn James and Marianne Frost.

Paul’s faith, kindness, and commitment to others will be remembered and cherished by those who love him.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) in Winter Park, Colorado in honor of Paul’s passion for skiing and love for the mountains. To make a donation online go to: https://nscd.org/donate-to-nscd/. If you would prefer to donate via cash or check, please mail to: National Sports Center for the Disabled, 1801 Mile High Stadium Circle, Suite 1500, Denver, CO 80204.

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