Daniel Ray Paul

Daniel Ray Paul, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away unexpectedly on October 5, 2025, at the age of 64, following a tragic car accident. His sudden departure leaves a profound void in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.

Daniel was born in Oceanside, California, on September 29, 1961, to Daniel Roger Paul and Betty Mae Sessions. He grew up in the Chicago area, surrounded by a close-knit group of friends, a childhood full of sports, mischief, and a deep loyalty to Chicago’s professional teams — the Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, and White Sox.

He graduated from Maine East High School in 1979 and attended Brigham Young University. During his college years, he served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Tokyo, Japan — a transformative experience that deeply influenced his worldview. He graduated in 1985 with a degree in Japanese language.

While at BYU, Daniel met the love of his life, Luella Lena Dean. They were sealed in the Provo Temple on December 17, 1983, and built a beautiful life together — one anchored in family, faith, and a shared spirit of adventure. They were blessed with four children: Daniel Roger (born July 31, 1985), Richard Tyler (February 3, 1987), Lena Keilani (May 13, 1989), and Cory Dean (January 8, 1992).

Daniel began his professional career with the National Security Agency (NSA) in 1986, which took him and his young family to Maryland and Japan. In 1992, he began the University of Chicago MBA program, graduating with the Class of 1994. Shortly afterward, he began a 29-year career with Conoco (later ConocoPhillips), which took the family to assignments around the world — including Houston, TX; Jakarta, Indonesia; Doha, Qatar; and Abu Dhabi, UAE. The beauty and diversity of the people, cultures, and places he encountered deepened his wisdom, compassion, and patience — qualities that were evident to all who knew him.

A model of humility, generosity, and service, Daniel gave freely of his time and resources. He served faithfully in both church and community roles, including youth and Scout leader, teacher, volunteer firefighter, bishop, and career mentor. He was a lifelong learner — an avid consumer of books, podcasts, and educational media, always exploring new ideas and skills.
Above all, Daniel was a devoted family man. He found immense joy in spending time with his children, their spouses — Jessica and Andrea — and his grandchildren: Asher, TJ, Eli, Mia, Ben, Noelia, and Jackson. He passed on his love of the outdoors — hiking, biking, and camping — as well as a passion for puzzles, card games, and board games, many of which have become cherished family traditions. His boundless creativity came to life through bedtime stories, blanket fort building, Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, and a knack for turning the everyday into something magical.

Daniel was his family’s biggest cheerleader — coaching youth sports teams, attending tournaments, school plays, and concerts, and always offering encouragement, guidance, and quiet strength.

He is survived by his wife, Lena; his children Dan (Jessica), Tyler (Andrea), Keilani, and Cory; his seven grandchildren; and his sisters, Karen and Diane. He was preceded in death by his parents, Daniel and Betty Paul.

Daniel’s legacy is one of love, laughter, service, and unwavering strength. His impact will continue to ripple through the lives of those he touched. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Service Information

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 9950 Mason Rd, Richmond, TX 77406.

Visitation begins at 9:00 AM, with the funeral service starting at 10:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to Walk With Me.Global, or simply to honor Daniel’s legacy by spending time with family, helping someone in need, or learning something new.