Paul Henry Donet, 95 years of age of Silver City, New Mexico, passed away on August 19, 2020 after a fairly brief battle of cancer. He lived his last year of life in Las Cruces, NM residing at Morningside Assisted Living Facility. He passed there in a short few days in a Hospice Unit.

Paul was born on April 16, 1925 to Henry Donet and Elsie Fritz in McKeesport, PA. After graduating from McKeesport, PA High School, he went directly into the Navy as a Machinist using the trade he learned while in High School.

While in the Navy during WWII, he worked as a Machinist on board ships and also assisted troops landing them on South Pacific beaches on a Landing Troop Carrier that he was responsible for during the South Pacific Theatre era.

After returning from war he married Marjorie Rebholz in 1949, had four children and resided in McKeesport PA working for U.S. Steel up until 1959. At that time Paul moved the family to Silver City, NM and worked for Kennecott Copper, where he was the only Machinist working at the smelter in Chino Mines in Hurley NM. He could make and fix any machine parts. He retired at 56 years of age.

All of Paul’s children were raised in Silver City for many years of their lives before they eventually married and moved to other locations. Only one sibling remains residing in Silver City.

After divorcing, Paul remained in Silver City for his remaining years. He married Helen Donet and was with her for 40 years. They enjoyed RVing and travelling the country for many years up until her death a few years ago.

Paul always enjoyed being outdoors, and hunted and fished with the boys while they were growing up. Fishing was actually one of Paul’s main passions along with woodworking in his shop making masterpieces of whirly gigs for his and others’ yards. He also made caricatures of animals out of wood. His daughter cherishes dearly some of them he made for her of her dogs.

Paul grew to be religious over the years and loved going to Church Service and the luncheons, and conversing with all of his church family. He was probably the only remaining eldest person of his church family at Calvary Baptist Church in Silver City.

Paul is survived by all of his children, Marcia Hommel and husband Tom, Mark Donet and wife Jody, Paul E. Donet and wife Jonell, Chis Bransford and husband Gil. He has 10 Grandchildren, and 12 Great Grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements will be conducted by Bright Funeral Home of Silver City, NM and the graveside service will be will be conducted by Calvary Baptist Church at burial site in Ft. Bayard National Cemetery on Friday August  28, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. Flowers can be sent to Bright Funeral Home where they will transport to burial site.  Masks will be needed for the service. Bright Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements, “A Loving and Caring Place to Celebrate, Honor, and Remember A Life Lived”, 210 W. College Ave., Silver City, New Mexico 88061. Remembrances can be made at www.hbrightfuneral.net