Paul Michael Boe Mosby, 21

Paul Michael Boe Mosby died Nov. 15, 2007, at the age of 21, as the result of injuries sustained in a motor-vehicle accident.

He was born March 7, 1986, in Kalispell to Beverly Boe and David Mosby. His arrival was celebrated at their West Valley home by his parents, sister, Taylor, and proud "Grammers" Mabel Boe.

When Paul was 9 months of age, his father, David, left to develop a business in South Carolina. The family was able to join him when Paul was 18 months old. Pre-school and his primary grades were completed there.

He loved hearing stories and delighted in reading to himself. He was an active boy, swimming with friends in our backyard pool, riding tricycles, then bikes, playing soccer, Pee Wee League baseball and discovering the skateboard. Highlights of those years included trips to the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, eating fresh shrimp, sailing on the Gulf of Mexico in Grandma Alyce's boat, touring South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, visiting Disney World and the Okefenokee Swamp. Perhaps best of all was attending an Atlanta Braves baseball game when he was 8 years old.

The family returned to Kalispell that same year to live again in West Valley, just across the road from Paul's very first home. He completed grades 3-7 at West Valley School.

He watched his dad build their new home and rode his bike, rough-housed and played with friends all across the neighborhood. He played Little League baseball, Rotary basketball, and football, and went sledding, skiing and ice-skating, and discovered hockey. His musical interests expanded with exposure to the recorder, clarinet and piano.

Paul transferred to Kalispell Junior High for grades 8-9. He was delighted to get into tackle football, playing defensive cornerback and wide receiver. He won "Chipping Champ" (14-17) at Buffalo Hills Golf Course when he was 14 years old. He belonged to the Kalispell Ski Club and loved teaching little children to ski. He swam on the KATS for a time and started playing golf with his dad. He wrestled in the Little Guy program until moving on to Flathead High School.

Paul's musical abilities grew at FHS under the influence of Kevin Allen-Schmid through men's a cappella choir and guitar classes with Steve Eckels. He started playing drums during this period, but guitar was his first love and the conduit of his heart and soul. Paul began composing music, writing lyrics and jamming with other like-minded musicians. His punk rock band, The Rotten Rebels, was formed.

Paul worked on several part-time and summer jobs during his high-school years. He was proud to have been selected to participate as a caddy for the first two years of the program at the Iron Horse Golf Course. Paul left high school in the 11th grade and went out on his own. He earned his GED in 2004.

In spring 2006, Paul enrolled part-time at Flathead Valley Community College. During breaks, he delighted in traveling to several cities in Montana and to the Southwest United States to punk rock concerts. He also took a solo trip to Seattle to explore that punk rock music scene. In the fall of 2007, he declared a business major and began full-time studies while working at the Red Lion Hotel and playing music. He had recently realized another dream by joining the men's community hockey team in Whitefish.

He was jamming with new musicians, exploring new techniques on the guitar, and the Rotten Rebels were playing gigs now and again. He was surrounded by friends of all ages and persuasions, including musicians, thespians, those in student government, those who excelled in traditional ways and those who did not. He had a dream and a business plan for a mobile recording studio to help other musicians who had no access to quality recording equipment. This has been a very good time in Paul's life.

Paul is survived by his parents, Beverly and David, at the family home in West Valley; his sister, Taylor, and her husband, Robbie Torgerson, of Kalispell; maternal grandmother, Mabel Boe, of Kalispell; uncle and aunt, Douglas Boe and Lou Ann Carver, and cousin, Ryan Boe, of Spokane; plus aunt, Linda Mosby, uncle and aunt, Chuck and Melody Mosby, cousin, Heather Mosby, and paternal grandfather, Bob Mosby, all of Georgia. He is missed at home by the family dogs, Abbey, Angel and Mijo, and by his cat, Gideon, The Great Destroyer.

Among his closest friends are Tim and Ariel Lockwood and their children, Pippin and Adina, whom Paul loved and took great delight in as he would have his own. All of Paul's friends are treasured.

A memorial service to celebrate Paul's life will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27, at the new theater at FVCC. You are invited to go to http://www.johnsonmortuary.com to offer condolences and sign Paul's guest book.

Donations in memory of Paul may be made to the Flathead Valley Community College Foundation, Paul Mosby Memorial Fund, to benefit the music and theater programs.