James “Paul” McPhail

Graveside service for James “Paul” McPhail, age 89, of Lubbock, Texas, formerly of Mt. Park, was held Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at the Mountain Park Cemetery.

Arrangements and burial was under the direction of Orr Gray Gish & Tipton Funeral Homes.

Mr. McPhail passed away Friday, May 21, 2021, in Lubbock, Texas.

He was born in Kiowa County on January 14, 1932, to Omer and Allinette (Preston) McPhail. He graduated from Mountain Park High School and headed out to California with a dream, a fiddle, and a guitar.

He later returned to Oklahoma to help plant crops with his dad and soon married the first love of his life, Evelyn Janel Culvahouse, on October 6, 1953, in Lawton. They had two children, Brent and Kent while living in Kiowa County. There they ran a little country store and then went on to farm on Dr. Allgood's land.

In 1965, Paul decided to get out of farming and pursued a career in TV and radio repair. They moved to Roosevelt while he attended night school and worked for the phone company. In 1969, he moved his family to Lubbock, Texas, in order to work for Burrous and support his family while maintaining computer systems for large companies and banks. He supported his sons as they opened a laundry business and even invested in their rental property ventures.

Upon retirement, Paul enjoyed golf, playing cards at the country club, and visiting his brothers. In 2013, he met the second love of his life, Montrelle Cox. He and Montrelle enjoyed many years of traveling, dancing, and visiting family. Montrelle continued to love and care for Paul for the rest of his life.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Omer and Allinette McPhail; wife: Evelyn Janel McPhail; son: James Brent McPhail; and three brothers: Gene, Willis, and Don McPhail.
He is survived by: Montrelle Cox of Lubbock; his son: Kent McPhail and wife Sandy of Lubbock; a daughter-in-law Debbie McPhail of Lubbock; grandchildren: Chelsea McPhail and husband Ty Ellis, Weston McPhail and wife Ashley, Lacey Bain and husband Chris, and Timothy McPhail, all of Lubbock, and Joshua McPhail and wife Sarah of Frisco, Texas; great-grandchildren: Kaylee Ellis, Ace and Parker McPhail, Brenton and Marianne Bain, Malcolm and Jonas McPhail.

Memorial contributions may be sent to: American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123, or to the Dementia Society of American, P.O. Box 600, Doylestown, PA, 18901, in loving memory of Paul McPhail.