Paula Jeanne Tanner Graham

Our loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed away peacefully on April 29, 2026, surrounded by loved ones at the age of 94.

Paula was born on September 23, 1931, to Eldon Haws Tanner and Gladys Fern Oberhansley Tanner in Salt Lake City, Utah. She attended East High, and even though she grew up in Salt Lake, she had a desire to go to Brigham Young University. Her family moved to Spanish Fork so that she could attend BYU, where she met the love of her life, Robert Graham. They were married on December 28, 1950, and later sealed in the Manti Temple. She started her family and eventually had 6 children, but she had a desire to complete her education and went back to BYU, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1972. She became a schoolteacher and taught at West Kearns Elementary for 20 years.

Paula was a woman of faith; she was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and had a very strong testimony of the church. She loved to sing and could play the piano by ear. She directed the music at church services and was quite often asked to sing in sacrament meetings and share her beautiful voice with everyone.

She loved to travel with her husband Bob; they traveled all over the world, visiting Russia, Ukraine, Jerusalem, and many other places. She loved going to their cabin in Mount Pleasant and camping with her family, visiting many National Parks. She was a go-getter and would hike and keep up with the grandkids when travelling.

Paula loved having her family together. She would have big family parties in their beautiful backyard in the summertime, always going to Fairmont Park for the 4th of July. She always made sure to make a big Thanksgiving dinner, and anyone was invited. She wanted everyone to have a place to be with family and loved ones on Thanksgiving. And of course, Christmas was a holiday she loved, celebrating the birth of her savior, Jesus Christ, and having all her family together was something she cherished.

Paula was a descendant of the Mormon Pioneers who crossed the plains and was a member of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers. She loved to read, knit, and, of course, she loved her BYU Cougar football team!! She would listen to the games on the radio when she was a young girl and continued this love throughout her life.

She is survived by her 6 children: Stephen (Henny); Linda (Wayne) Walker; Rick; Gary (Rowena); Brad (Lisa); Bryan; 15 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and one great-great- grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Graham; her sister, Marcia Thompson; and her grandsons Eric Graham, Daniel, and Andrew Graham.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, May 8, 2026, at Meadow Heights Ward, 4310 S 3200 W. A viewing will be held Thursday, May 7th, from 5:00-8:00 pm at the church and Friday morning from 10:00-11:00 am prior to the services. Interment will follow services at Memorial Redwood Cemetery, 6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah.