Gail Russell Paulson

Gail Russell Paulson of Buhl, Idaho peacefully passed after a very short battle with cancer on Monday, April 22, 2024, at the age of 67.

Born December 12, 1956, in Del Norte, Colorado, Gail was the eldest child of Jim and Glennys Paulson. He lived his first two years in a humble two-room house without running water.  Gail learned the value of hard work and family bonds, spending his childhood working alongside his father on the family farm in Colorado. He cherished memories made with his siblings and cousins.   

In 1973 the Paulson family relocated to Buhl, Idaho.   Gail joked there were more rocks in Idaho, which were somehow heavier than the rocks in Colorado. Gail graduated from Buhl High School where he earned his place on an outstanding varsity football team.

At 19, Gail bought a harrow bed and established Paulson Custom Farming. A venture that would define his successful career. His business evolved over the years to include trucking and fertilizer spreading.   Before GPS, Gail seemed to know where every field was and who farmed it across Southern Idaho and into Nevada.

December 30, 1978, Gail married his soulmate and the love of his life, Charlene Weaver.  Together they raised two sons, Mathew and Rodney, on a Buhl farm.  He always found time for camping, road trips, and many weekends at their cabin in Pine.  The family enjoyed snowmobiling, dirt biking, boating, riding RZRs and Harleys.  Gail said, “The Family that Plays Together, Stays Together.”  Gail loved his toys, cars, trucks, and equipment.  Everything he owned was modified to haul more, go faster, climb higher, and look cooler.  

Gail and Charlene covered many miles with family and friends on motorcycle trips. They made several special journeys with the grandkids including Disneyland, SeaWorld, and the Oregon Coast!  Other favorite travels included the rugged landscapes of Alaska, Canada, and Colorado, to the amazing scenery of Switzerland and regularly to one of his favorite places in Idaho, Boulder City.

Gail embraced life with a contagious enthusiasm, always ready to take on new adventures. He valued every moment spent with loved ones.  His laughter was infectious, and his storytelling captivated all who knew him.   Gail was a master builder of fantastic and fun things that will continue to make his family and friends laugh and remember. 

Though Gail’s time among us was cut short, his legacy will live on in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know him. May he rest in peace surrounded by the memories of a life very well lived.

Gail was preceded in death by his father, Jim.  He is survived by his mother, Glennys; wife, Charlene; sons, Mathew (Kristina) and Rodney (Chelsy); and beloved grandchildren Arabelle, Rhett, Gretta, and Pearl; along with siblings, Gary (Roxanne) Paulson, Jayme (Jamie) Shouse, and Greg (Shawna) Paulson; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews who will carry his memory forward with love and admiration. 

Funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM, Monday, May 6, 2024, at the First Christian Church, 1005 Poplar Street, Buhl, Idaho.

Memorial donations may be made in Gail’s name to Idaho Snow & Trail Riders, 13601 W McMillan Road #102321, Boise, Idaho 83713.