{"id":9175,"date":"2025-10-16T20:27:06","date_gmt":"2025-10-17T03:27:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/underwoodcommunity.org\/wp-ucc\/?p=9175"},"modified":"2025-10-21T11:15:57","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T18:15:57","slug":"paul-newell-underwood-obituary-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/underwoodcommunity.org\/wp-ucc\/paul-newell-underwood-obituary-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Remembering Paul Michael Newell (1950-2025)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Remembering Paul Michael Newell (1950-2025)<\/h1><\/span>
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An Underwood Legend Has Passed but His Spirit Endures<\/h1><\/div>

Paul Michael Newell was born on Nov. 14, 1950, to Verne Archie and Elizabeth Ann (Wess) Newell, in the old White Salmon, Washington, hospital. He joined two sisters at home in Underwood, Washington, where he lived his whole life. Three more children were born to complete the Newell family in subsequent years, and most settled in Underwood.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Paul attended elementary school in White Salmon and high school in Stevenson, Washington, where he graduated in 1969. High school was a fun part of Paul\u2019s life. He made friends, joined the Honor Society, and played on Stevenson\u2019s fabled undefeated 1969 football team. Paul also learned to pole vault and held the record in that event for many years. Go, Bulldogs!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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During high school summers, he worked at Broughton Lumber Co.\u2019s sawmill in Willard, Washington, with his dad and brothers. He attended Clark College but returned to Underwood and the mill after marrying Debra Hodge in 1971.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

A daughter, Melanie Ann, was born to the couple in 1972, joining her half-brother, Jason Hodge. Paul continued to work at Broughton\u2019s to support his family until he lost his right leg above the knee in an accident at the mill in 1981. Lots of things changed then, but not Paul\u2019s ingrained desire to always be the best he could be. <\/span><\/div>\n

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His wife left, but the kids stayed, and Paul returned to college, where he discovered he had a knack for computers. He began working at Treaty Oak Community College in The Dalles, Oregon, in 1982. He was not accredited to teach, but he ran their computer lab and helped many students get comfortable with technology.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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More importantly, Paul kindly and patiently taught the college staff to use computers. He selected and purchased the hardware and software that brought the fledgling institution now known as Columbia Gorge Community College into the computer age. He was their one-man IT department.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

In 1987, Paul married Sally Adkisson of The Dalles, adding her two kids, Claire and Colin Smith, to the family. He continued to work at the college for several years until he had an opportunity to join the IT department at Sprint in Hood River, Oregon. The college hired three people to replace him. Paul advanced steadily through his career and remained with the phone company until his retirement.<\/p>\n

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Once Paul took that first step with his prosthetic leg, there was no stopping him. He loved music, but didn\u2019t play, so he danced. He loved the outdoors, so he farmed his place in Underwood, raised lambs, rode horses, sailed his boat and managed to do \u2018most everything he wanted to do. He was no quitter, and he didn\u2019t complain.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Paul\u2019s love of farming and the natural world led him to serve on the Underwood Conservation District Board of Supervisors for many years, eventually earning him recognition by the Washington Association of Conservation Districts in 2018, when he was awarded the Eugene Schloz Outstanding Supervisor Award.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Unfortunately, that was the year he was diagnosed with the rare and aggressive prostate cancer that eventually took him, but not without a fight. Paul fought valiantly and without complaint.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Paul was predeceased by his parents and sister, Cecilia (Paul) Stone. He is survived by his wife Sally; son Jason Hodge; daughter Melanie (Matt) Marx; daughter Claire (Robert) Graper; son Colin (Lurel) Smith; grandsons Kamryn Ruthardt Newell, Jonathan Graper and Zane Smith; granddaughters Ilaina Smith and Grace Julian; sister Sharon (Jim) Bryan; brother Tim (Karen) Newell; sister Jayne (Scott) Allen; brother Lester (Shelly) Newell; and nieces, nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews \u2014 he loved each one. And so many dear friends! His oversized heart drew people to him.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Family and friends will gather at the Underwood Community Center to celebrate Paul on November 15, the day after what would have been his 75th<\/sup> birthday. There will be a potluck, a slideshow, tributes, and music — not necessarily in that order. Please bring a dish to share to help celebrate a true Underwood original.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

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Make a Living Tribute<\/h2><\/a><\/div>
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Plant a memorial tree in memory of Paul Newell. Each tree will include a certificate of contribution, and y<\/span>our name will be listed on Paul’s tribute wall.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div>Plant a Tree to Remember<\/a>
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