MORGAN THOMAS PAULSON JR.

June 11, 1946 - June 10, 2026

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Morgan “Tom” Paulson, Jr., of Richmond, Rhode Island, on June 10, 2026, at the age of 79.  Born in Kalispell, Montana, Tom was the son of the late Morgan T. and Elizabeth L. (Henderson) Paulson.

Tom was much beloved and will be forever remembered by his wife of 49 years, Nancy; his children, Erik and his wife Krishna, and Jennifer Ahearn and her husband, Brian; his six grandchildren, Anika, Kaya, Soren, Julia, Brian and Axel; and his twin brother, Charlie. His sister, Linda, passed before him.

As a child, Tom could often be found playing baseball in the neighborhood, scrounging for nightcrawlers to go fishing, or climbing a tree to watch the sunset. He carried that appreciation of the outdoors, curiosity, and simple pleasures throughout his life. Tom often shared stories from his time in the Air Force, where he worked in communications and played on the base football team. 

After the Air Force, Tom attended Andover Institute of Business for 2 years, studying computer programming and business. He went on to work at Honeywell in the electronics field. A desire to work outside led him to transition to carpentry, like his dad. Tom built the saltbox house that he and Nancy lived in and made it into a home. He had a natural way with building, renovating, fixing, and tinkering on projects both big and small, and a rare mix of resourcefulness and common sense that helped him solve problems on a budget. He passed along that knowledge freely, usually with a bit of friendly advice, a practical shortcut, or a well-timed joke.

Tom met Nancy, never forgetting to remind us that marrying her was the best decision he ever made. His children fondly remember the backyard he helped fill with adventures: shelters for Erik’s menagerie of animals, a tree house with a pull-up rope ladder, dirt bikes, tractors, and countless “toys” that enriched their childhood. Tom played hockey and football, followed the Patriots and Red Sox, and coached youth sports teams. With Nancy by his side, he spent many years traveling around New England to watch Jen play soccer and softball through high school and college. In later years, that same joy continued as he came to games for his grandchildren.

An avid reader, history lover, tinkerer, cook, foot-tapper, snowball thrower, storyteller, cribbage master, oyster shucker, sudoku lover, and chief grandpa joker, Tom had a quick wit and those who knew him will dearly miss his one-liners and “grandpa jokes.” He was always ready to call the “toe truck” when someone stubbed a toe. Tom enjoyed a cup of coffee, conversations with friends, taking the grandkids out for ice cream, cards or a game of cribbage, scenic drives along country roads or to the ocean with Nancy, fishing trips with his brother to Block Island, and evenings around a campfire. He appreciated live music, from Key West to Nashville, from cover bands to concert halls. For many years, he and Nancy enjoyed trips to Vermont and Maine with family and made annual road trips along the East Coast, exploring new areas along the way and staying in Key West, where they enjoyed live music, people-watching, good food, and sunsets at Mallory Square.

After a lifetime of carpentry, Tom never stopped building. He made shelves, cabinets, benches, picture frames, furniture, and two-steppers. He fixed creaky doors, tilted tables, stubborn drawers, and the grandkids’ toys. The house filled with shelves he built for Nancy’s whimsy, expertly crafted and painted ocean blue or sea glass green, then filled with her sparkles.

Most of all, Tom loved spending time with the people he cared about. His legacy lives on in the family he loved, the stories they will continue to tell, the lessons he passed down, the things he built with his own hands, and the simple joys he taught others to notice. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered. We love you, Tom.

Tom’s committal prayers and burial with military honors were held privately at the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Exeter.

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