Paul Skidmore

Paul Skidmore, age 73, of Northport, died March 9, 2011, at La Rocca Nursing Home. A memorial service will be 2 PM today at Heritage Chapel Funeral Home with Bob Shaw officiating and Heritage Chapel Funeral Home & Cremations, a Dignity Memorial Provider, directing. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the funeral home.

He was preceded in death by his parents, E.W. and Paula Skidmore; wife, Gail Skidmore; and great-granddaughter, Sydnee Scott Boler Hardin.

Survivors include his daughters, Suzanne McCool (Terrell) and Melanie Moss (Tracy); sisters, Judye Camp (Albert) and Mickey Skidmore; grandchildren, Jessica Boler, Christa Boler, Mila Key, Lawson McCool, Olivia McCool, Sawyer McCool, Mimi McCool, Crockett McCool, and Barclay McCool.

Paul Skidmore was born December 5, 1937. He was a graduate of Tuscaloosa County High School in 1955. He served with the United States Army. Paul graduated from the Commerce and Business Administration School of the University of Alabama with a B.S. degree in Industrial Management (1960) and of the law school (1962) with an L.L.B. degree; he liked to refer to this time in law school as when he stayed on the dean's "other list!" He was admitted to the County, State, and Federal Bars in August 1962. He was a member of Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity, American and Alabama Trial Lawyers Association, and Farrah Order of Jurisprudence legal honorary society. He was a life member of the NRA and a longtime member of the Alabama Gun Collectors' Association.

He married Gail Forsythe in 1958, and they had two daughters. Paul worked for many years as Chief Counsel for the University of Alabama. Upon retiring from this position, he returned to private practice and enjoyed helping clients over the years in many different capacities. He was especially humbled when the Tuscaloosa County Bar Association honored him with the title of "Pillar of the Bar" in 2009. His self-deprecating humor was second to none. The ones who knew him best will miss him immensely but are so very thankful for the fond and humorous memories he leaves us.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Salvation Army or Arts Council of Tuscaloosa.