Paul Morris McAbee

"You know, people have more fun than anyone?"� Paul Morris McAbee, lover of life and having the most fun of all the people, went to be with his Lord on Saturday, July 24th, at 7:08 pm. He was 78. A self-proclaimed "left-footed"� individual, he was the perpetual prankster, sending bottle rockets under bathroom doors at his automotive shop, instigating indoor water hose fights, and stomping on the brake just as his unsuspecting passengers were raising a Big Gulp to their lips to take a sip. He loved to tell really inappropriate jokes (the kind that make you feel a little uncomfortable but that you can't help but laugh at) and if you were close to him, you probably heard the same jokes so many times, there' a good chance you may have thought our family actually was from Alabama (no offense to Alabama). Paul was born in Frisco, North Carolina and grew up on the Outer Banks, often sleeping on the dunes at the foot of the Hatteras lighthouse. Paul lived with his mother, Evelyn Stowe and his four siblings - William Alonzo (Lonnie) McKinney (D), Susan Vernetta Jordan (D), Alan Brent McAbee (D), and Gloria Mutter, known as his "faaaavorite sissy"�. Paul had a special relationship with his momma and each of his siblings "� his family was everything to him. At the age of 18, Paul left the island with his lifelong friend, Roger, to join the Air Force. He traveled from there to Akron, Ohio, where he met his first wife. We could go into lots of details about Paul' marital adventures, but we'll just say that the ladies were not something Paul included in his motto, "everything in moderation"�. From his various forays into love, Paul had two children, Ricky Allen McAbee and Melissa Renee McAbee Zaher (Neal). His family grew larger with three granddaughters, Mackenzy Alexis McAbee, Ara Clare and Abbott Hollowell Zaher, and lots of nieces and nephews. Paul spent his whole life learning about cars, repairing cars, building cars, and racing those cars. He credited his love of mechanics to his friend, mentor and father figure, Roy Good, an island native. Paul was the most experienced untrained engineer in the state of Georgia, working jobs at Lockheed Martin and Ogden Forklifts, and eventually starting his own forklift business, McAbee Forklift. Some of you may remember his slogan"� "If we can't fix it, it can't be fixed"�. Truer words have never been spoken. Beyond McAbee Forklift, Paul established Speedway Automotive and Towing, which carried him into is retirement years and beyond. Paul loved the sea and the salt air. He loved learning, especially about science, and he would totally school you on things like the contents of the core of the Earth (nickel) and the fact that turtles breathe through their butts in Winter. He loved dogs. He loved a good medium rare steak and a salad with bleu cheese dressing. He loved driving fast and eating slow. He loved his friends, his family, and just being alive.Paul worked hard most days of his life until he couldn't, and whatever he had, he'd share with those around him. He was a giant of a man with a kind and gentle soul, a big spirit and an even bigger life. In his final moments, he said, "I've had a good life. I have a lot of great memories"� the Lord has been good to me and I'm ready to go home"�. The checkered flag is waving you across the finish line, Paul. You've had a good race. The service will be livestreamed on Saturday at 2:00 pm at the following link. In" target="_blank">https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/1425885939In lieu of flowers and in honor of Paul' memory, please make a donation to the Humane Society or the ASPCA. Paul so loved animals and it would warm his heart to know you helped to make a difference in an animal' life. " target="_blank">https://secure.aspca.org/donate/donate?ms=wb_top_homepage-donate&initialms=wb_top_homepage-donate&pcode=WEBMEMBER&lpcode=WEBGUARD https://secure.humanesociety.org/site/Donation2?df_id=23356&23356.donation=form1&s_pFreq=o&s_src=ad_gg_120727562_7704793682_415440427117_humane%20society.org_ad_splash&c=&PREFILL_AMOUNT=

Celebration of Life

2021-07-31 14:00:00



Georgia National Cemetery

1080 Scott Hudgens Dr.

Canton

GA

30114



Visitation

2021-07-31 10:00:00

14:00:00

Poole Funeral Home & Cremation Services

1970 Eagle Drive

Woodstock

Georgia

30189