Obituary of Paul Raymond Coveart
December 6, 1936 – July 12, 2024
*****
It is with tremendous sadness that we announce the sudden and unexpected passing of our beloved Paul Coveart, a man of uncompromising integrity who was loved by everyone who knew him. Paul was a character larger than life – our own legend: vibrant, funny and frustrating as hell; fiercely proud, loyal and independent; generous, busy and stubborn to a fault.
A printer by profession, Paul was a jack-of-all-trades who could jury-rig his way around anyconundrum. He worked hard all his life, helping out whenever, wherever and whoever he could. If there was a job to be done, he did it, whether or not it was his job to do. Unable to sit idle and unwilling to miss a sunrise, he got up before dawn, filled his day with projects, never had a drink before 4 pm (except at the cottage!), and went to bed at dusk.
He loved car racing, crackling fires, coffee, card games, Scrabble, punctuality, paperbacks, boat rides, butter, wood, warm beer, cheap wine, wool socks, country music, cornhole, half and half cream, rum and Coke, shelves, Mentholatum, hats, hard workers, tools, lottery tickets, flowers, our cottage, his bunkie, contingency plans, driving, giving directions, sunsets, stars, swearing, family, fresh corn, strawberries, anchovies, overdrive, honesty, propane, lakes, birds, Imperial cheese, old fashioned plain donuts, and wearing way too many clothes in the summertime. His philosophy was: If one will do it, 10 will do it better.
He was many things to many people – Dad, Grandpa, Papa, Great Papa, Smallie, Sparky, husband, brother, uncle, mentor, friend – but he was always unapologetically Paul. There will never be another like him.
Predeceased by his wife Barb, he will be so dearly missed by his children Tracey (Rob) and Matt (Linda), his grandchildren Matthew (Beth), Patrick (Megan), Stephanie, Taylor (Bailey) and Ryan, his great grandchildren Rocket Raine, Parker Rae and his first great grandson due in August, his remaining sister Lorraine (Bob), his many nieces and nephews, and those who rounded out his rich life: his Crystal Lake cottage family, his Thursday night euchre buddies, members of BARC and the Port Perry Curling Club, the people of the town he called home, and all his neighbours who stopped by daily to ask a favour, borrow a tool, check out his latest woodworking masterpiece or just chat while he sat in his white plastic chair enjoying his gardens, his birds, the sunshine, a cool breeze and the hustle and bustle of the world going on around him.
We have a lifetime of Paul stories to help us remember and keep us laughing, but we wish we had a lifetime more with the crazy, beautiful man who was the centre of our crazy, beautiful universe. We love you, Paul. We will miss you more than you could ever know, but your legacy lives on in us.
Donations in Paul's memory would be gratefully received by WindReach Farm in Ashburn, a place that he loved and one that means so much to his family.