Paul Cormier Obituary

Perhaps because God wanted someone to edit the Ten Commandments, Paul O. Cormier was called to heaven from Salem on Jan. 5, 2026.

Born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, the second child of Arthur and Mary Cormier, he moved to Drain, Oregon, in 1950 when his family came to visit friends Art met while serving in the 3Cs at Moro, Oregon, in the 1930s.

During his youth, Paul was active in sports, school publications and Scouting, where he earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

Pursuing his dream vocation, Paul attended the University of Oregon and graduated in 1965 with a degree from the School of Journalism. However, except for a brief stint as a copy editor at the Amarillo (Texas) Daily News and time as an information officer in the Air Force, work in this field was not in his future.
He married Sandra Hunter in Portland in April 1966. Four days later, he began military service at the Air Force's Officer Training School in Texas, earning Distinguished Graduate designation and being awarded a regular officer commission. He served four years in public affairs at bases in Texas and Arizona. While at Williams AFB near Phoenix, their daughter Leslie was born. He achieved the rank of captain before leaving the service in 1970.

After the Air Force, he began a 40-year career in business, banking and finance. His jobs took him first to Eugene, where daughters Michelle and Stacy were born, then to stops in Creswell, Cottage Grove, once more to Creswell, Klamath Falls, Eugene again, Coos Bay, Salem, then to California in Sacramento and Santa Rosa, before returning to Salem and finally to Portland, where he retired from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development agency in 2014.

Throughout his working years, Paul also volunteered with several financial organizations: as a bank director at the Community Bank of Creswell, board chair of the Oregon Employees Federal Credit Union (now Heritage Grove FCU) in Salem, on advisory committees with United Way and Alzheimer's Network of Oregon, and as a classroom presenter for Financial Beginnings' financial literacy program.

Paul used his retirement years to try to improve his golf game (Once, after a particularly poor shot, his playing partner said: "I've seen worse, but not often."), increase his volunteer work at his church through the Knights of Columbus, serve as a member of the Scholarship Selection Committee for the State of Oregon and provide unsolicited editing comments for newspapers, church bulletins, websites and magazines on both coasts. (The editor of The Oregonian once referred to him as "a frequent but very polite commenter.") Twice, he served on the planning committee for U of O Class of '65 reunions. He enjoyed attending the many athletic and school activities of his grandchildren.

Upon reflection, Paul recently summed up what he viewed as his primary purpose in life: To be a creative, resourceful, persistent, problem-solving catalyst. He aimed to bring people together and make things happen.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Mary Cormier; his stepmother, Waitha Rundell Cormier; one grandchild and one great-grandchild. He is survived by his wife, Sandra; their three daughters, Leslie Cormier, Michelle (Edilberto) Cormier-Valladares and Stacy Cormier; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; his sister, Joanne (Charlie) Huckins, and brother, Robert Cormier.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at Queen of Peace Catholic Church (4227 Lone Oak Rd. SE, Salem) on Thursday, Feb. 19, at 11 a.m., preceded by a rosary at 10:15. Following the Mass, Paul will be interred at Willamette National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the Table of Plenty food pantry at Queen of Peace, Catholic Community Services or the Oregon and SW Washington Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.