NEVILLE, Paul Neville

A joyous and humour-filled Celebration of Life was held on May 31, 2025, for Paul James Neville, who passed away on November 16, 2024, after a lengthy illness.

Paul leaves behind his wife, Linda Bradford, who was his best friend and the love of his life. Wonderful memories collected over 40 years of love, respect, and closeness, are wrapped around her as she tries to cope with this new reality. Paul will be missed by so many people, but by none more than Linda.

Paul was born in Toronto in 1947, and worked for many years in the HR business before he and his wife, Linda, decided that they wanted to escape the big city and start a new life in Owen Sound. For Paul, the hardest part of leaving Toronto was giving up his membership in the Toronto Welsh Male Voice Choir. His years as a Second Tenor with the choir were truly one of the great joys of his life. But a new career was calling. Paul and Linda opened to guests The Highland Manor Inn Bed and Breakfast in Owen Sound in May of 2001. Having truly loved this second career, they were about to start their 25th season when Paul passed.

In his early years in Owen Sound, along with running the B & B, Paul also became involved for a short time in Kiwanis, of which he was President for a year. This was followed by 2 years as President of the Owen Sound and District Chamber of Commerce, during which he and his good friend, Bert Loopstra, the manager of the Chamber, more than doubled the membership. By then, the Inn was busy enough that it required both Paul and Linda to focus all their attention on the business. Paul loved being a host. His innate ability to have a great conversation with any new acquaintance made guests feel welcomed and comfortable from the moment they came in the door. His morning stories in the breakfast room were legendary, and many were recounted amongst the guests invited to his Celebration of Life.

Along with running the business, one of Paul’s fondest pastimes was to mentor people, if they wanted. He was SO good at it! The many speeches at his Celebration were testimony to how much he was loved and appreciated. Paul was kind, gentle, humble, hilariously funny, and a good man who held his true friends dear and didn’t suffer fools gladly. It was very clear at the Celebration that all those invited were, indeed, true friends and truly cared for him.

In 20 months since April of 2023, Paul spent over 200 nights in the wonderful care of Owen Sound hospital. In honour of Paul, memorial donations to Brightshores Health System Owen Sound Foundation would be greatly appreciated. Online condolences can be sent to Paul’s family by visiting his memorial at www.woodfuneralhome.ca.