Paul Noble Means, Jr.

Paul Noble Means, Jr. died peacefully on July 14, 2026, surrounded by his family.

Paul was born on September 15, 1951 in Hot Springs, AR, the son of Elizabeth “Fritzie” Means  and Dr. Paul Noble Means, Sr. He spent his childhood in Malvern, AR and moved to Little Rock, AR in junior high school, graduating from Hall High School.

Paul earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Vanderbilt University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He married Sherry Shipley Means, on August 9, 1975, and settled in Little Rock to begin his legal career and raise his family.

Paul began his legal career in the office of the Arkansas Attorney General and later served as the Director of the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission under then-governor Clinton. Both roles resonated with Paul’s commitment to the protection and conservation of Arkansas’s many natural resources. Paul spent over 30 years working in legislative affairs for Entergy Arkansas (formerly Arkansas Power and Light). Paul was a distinguished attorney and gifted conversationalist, who built many strong relationships at the state Capitol and had particular success at building diverse coalitions of support for the bills and proposals he was charged with advancing.

An avid environmentalist and passionate outdoorsman, Paul also devoted his time and expertise to the Ozark Society, the Arkansas Canoe Club, and other groups engaged in protecting Arkansas’s wild places and teaching others to recreate in them safely and responsibly. In the same vein, from college onward, Paul devoted 34 summers to serving on the staff of Camp Country Lad, a summer camp for boys on the Cumberland Plateau near Monterey, TN, where he shared his love of the outdoors and helped boys learn to have “fun in the right kind of way.” His positive impact on an entire generation of boys and young men there is immeasurable.

Paul was a man of many and varied interests. He taught himself guitar and was an active participant in many jams and music groups around Little Rock. He was part of the local cycling community, an avid reader, fond of snow skiing, a talented whitewater canoer and kayaker, and the organizer of countless group river trips and adventures. By far his greatest love was spending time with his children and grandchildren, particularly outdoors. He was always game to help with math homework or coach the softball or baseball team, and he never missed a football or basketball game. His happiest times were in a boat, on a trail, or camping out with his family, exploring new and familiar places.

Paul is predeceased by his parents and his sister, Frances “Bessie” Means. He is survived by his beloved wife of 51 years, Sherry, his daughter Shawn Shepard and son-in-law John Shepard, his son Malcolm Means and daughter-in-law Ashley Simmons Means, his grandchildren Francisco “Francis” Noble Means, Agustin “Auggie” Maxwell Means and Louis Oliver Malcolm Means, and numerous friends from all phases of his life.

A private celebration of life will be scheduled at a later time. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in Paul’s memory be made to one of the following: The Ozark Society, P.O. Box 166, Fayetteville, AR 72702, www.ozarksociety.net; or the Central Arkansas Library System Foundation, 100 Rock Street, Little Rock, AR 72201 https://cals.org/foundation/.