Paul Carson

Paul Carson, 83, of East Finley Township, passed away on Sunday, February 22, 2026. He was born on December 12, 1942, in Washington, a son of the late Samuel and Virginia Frye Carson. He married Becky Walker Carson on May 25, 1974. He was a member of the Taylorstown Christian Church and later attended the Claysville Christian Church with his family. He graduated from McGuffey High School in 1961. After serving in the Air Force, he earned a B.A. in English from Waynesburg College. He was a quiet and unassuming man who blessed and brightened this world with his kindness, character, and sense of humor. He entertained many with the gift of his writing. Early in his career, he was a reporter for the Observer-Reporter and was particularly known for his feature stories and coverage of local agriculture. He later wrote outdoor columns for local newspapers, including the Observer-Reporter, the Pittsburgh Press, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He was the editor of the Ruffed Grouse Society's membership magazine for nearly three decades. Several of his RGS magazine columns were compiled into a book, Ruffly Seasonal. He spent numerous cold mornings freezing in a camera blind waiting for a grouse to show up on a drumming log, and he captured many amazing photographs of grouse in the morning sunlight. His photography was included in the RGS magazine and various books. He was also a photographer for the Washington County Fair, putting together slide shows that showcased the fair each year. He grew up admiring uncles who were hunters and spent many hunting seasons in pursuit of deer, turkey, and game birds. In recent years, he and his brother, Tom, drove through the countryside looking for wildlife to take pictures of. They ended up with an abundance of buzzard pictures and joked that they had enough for a coffee table book, but they also spotted white hawks and other unusual critters in their travels. He participated in Revolutionary War-era reenactments with his family, including battles and demonstrations at Fort Henry Days in Wheeling, W.Va., the Covered Bridge Festival in Claysville, the Gretna Green Festival in West Alexander, and the Whiskey Rebellion in Washington. He also took part in the reenactment that marked the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Fort Necessity. He is survived by his wife; a daughter, Laurie (Damon) Bartolotta; a sister, Judy (Elmer) Ealy; a brother, Tom Carson; three nephews, Nathan (Stephanie Tate) Ealy, Chad (Julie) Cox, and Ben Bonus; and three nieces, Tricia (Bobby) Coons, Brylyn Ealy, and Megan Bonus. A graveside service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Ruffed Grouse Society or the American Cancer Society. Arrangements are entrusted to Young Funeral Home & Cremation Services Inc., 219 Main Street, Claysville, PA 15323. (724)-663-7373 www.youngfhinc.com