Paul Gordon Nelson

Paul Gordon Nelson passed away on October 15, 2025, from pancreatic cancer. He led a rich life full of stories, fun, food, friends, and family. He was born on November 3, 1973, to Randy Eileen Eatough and Richard Allen Nelson and was raised in Tarzana, California. He served as a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Crist of Latter-day Saints in the Santiago South Mission, Santiago, Chile. He moved to Salt Lake City after marrying his devoted wife Erica (Baiza) on September 7, 1996.

Paul loved to meet people and to tell stories, and his career and personal life were filled with both. He graduated from the University of Utah in Communications and Electronic Journalism and worked in both radio and television reporting for 25 years. He wrote some 1500 stories for KSL Newsradio, helped REAL Salt Lake build media coverage of their community engagement, and most recently was a reporter with KUTV covering a variety of topics including the series, “Crisis in the Classroom.”

Paul won multiple awards for his reporting and was known for being both an excellent journalist and a reliable colleague. He was dedicated to the Utah news landscape and established strong relationships with prominent Utahns across government, education, sports, the arts, and the community. He was trusted by his sources, which made it possible for him to report on important, difficult, and sensitive topics with accuracy, compassion, and perspective. He also brought people together with his humor. His fans and followers built a community of fun around him, starting the movement #GivePaulACookie across social media to celebrate Paul’s joyful personality and his love for the people and places across Utah.

Paul loved his family and friends even more than he loved his work. He maintained close friendships from childhood. He loved to cook and was always eager to try new recipes for his family and others. His home was the primary gathering place for extended family events, always filled with love and loved ones. Described as the “soul” provider for his family, he welcomed everyone into his home and into both his biological and chosen family.

Paul is preceded in death by his mother and father and is survived by his wife, three children Autumn, K, and Joshua; three siblings Marcia Jackson (Ron), Judith Miller (Lance), and Joanna Nofsinger (Justin), as well as many extended family members and friends.

A viewing will be held on Friday, October 24, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints’ Bernina Stake Center at 3045 Bernina Drive in Taylorsville, Utah.

A funeral followed by a Celebration of Life will be held at the same location on Saturday, October 25, 2025. There will be a funeral service from 3:00-4:00 pm, and a Celebration of Life from 4:00-6:00 pm.

All are welcome to attend any or all of the activities.