CLAUDINE RENEE LAGORRE PAUL

Mrs. Claudine Paul, age 74 passed away at the family residence in Vernon, Florida Wednesday evening, August 17, 2022.  She was born November 20, 1947 in Niort, France the daughter of Rene Lagorre and Renee Cluzo Lagorre.  Oddly enough, Claudine’s parents had the same first name, spelled differently by one letter to distinguish between male and female.  While not a problem in France it is easy to see the confusion it caused in the United States while going through customs.  Claudine began school at age two, another custom in France; as soon as you are potty trained you are allowed to start school. She graduated high school at age 12 in France.  Later, she met and married a U.S. soldier and with their son moved to Texas.  She and her husband were divorced but Claudine continued to live in Texas along with her son Chris.  There was a guy, a registered pharmacist living there who worked for a retail chain pharmacy which was acquired by Revco.  Jack Paul and Claudine and Chris became a family and when Revco opened a store in DeFuniak Springs, Jack requested and was granted a position as registered pharmacist for the DeFuniak location, a dream job since Jack was born and raised in Ponce deLeon.  The family packed up and moved back to Jack’s home.  Along with this marriage came two more sons, Danny and Brandon.  Claudine adapted well to the “cultural shock” the deep south brings, a far cry from her life in France and even from life in Texas.   It wasn’t long  before Claudine became a full fledged “country gal”; she was instantly likeable yet always had an aire of genuine sophistication.  After a time at Revco another opportunity presented itself to Jack and Claudine and their family, the pharmacy in Vernon, Florida, an independent drug store came up for sale and the family purchased the store.   Jack and Claudine worked hard to make the store the success it is today.  They were able to buy a 150 acre ranch and build their dream home.  Claudine loved nature and animals and trees and shrubs and the outdoors was her sanctuary.  Anyone visiting their home in Vernon can attest to this through the design; large oversized windows on every side and at every angle display the scenic grandeur of nature.  Claudine had one rule concerning the ranch, absolutely no hunting allowed.  She felt every living creature should have the same place of “sanctuary” she enjoyed without fear of hunters and sportsmen.  She touched many lives in her journey as a young French girl to that place in Vernon, Florida where Claudine left for her final journey Wednesday evening.

Among survivors are her husband, Jack Paul, her sons, Chris and wife Beth,  Danny, Brandon and wife Patricia.  Her grandchildren, Isabella, Abigale., Paige and Blaine.    Her sisters-in-law, Kathy Goddin and husband John and Rhonda Randal and husband Michael; her brothers-in-law Barry Monroe Paul and wife Judy and Donnie Paul and wife Carol.  Also surviving are two of those animals Claudine loved, her dog Gabby and a cockatoo Lalai.

Among those asked to serve as pallbearers are Brian Goddin, Caleb Davidson, Heath Truman, Barry Paul, Wesley Theus. Mike Merrifield and  Greg Floyd.  A time of visitation will be Monday, August 22, 2022 from 10 until 11 A.M. in Jerry Evans Chapel with the funeral beginning at 11:00 with  Wesley B. Hall officiating.   Burial will follow in the Paul family plot in New Ponce deLeon Cemetery.  Friends and family may go on line to view obituaries, offer condolences and sign the guest register at jerryevansfuneralhome.com