Pamela Marie Merrell

Pamela Marie Merrell was born on March 18, 1926 to John William Rafter and Marie Antoinette Holdsworth in Brisbane, Australia. Her early years were spent in a Catholic Boarding school, first in Brisbane and later in New Market, Australia. Pamela’s first job was at a hat factory sewing bands in hats. Her next job was at a beauty shop doing shampoo. Then she worked in a badge making factory. War broke out and she went to work at an American aircraft factory cleaning the pistons of American 852 engines. At age 13, Pamela had appendicitis. It was then that she decided she wanted to be a nurse. Her father would not sign for her to do that, but she found out that because of the war, she didn't need his permission. It was a couple of months prior to her eighteenth birthday that she was accepted at the Brisbane General Hospital. The only reason she could be accepted without a leaving certificate (a high school diploma) was because of the war and nurses were in short supply. Pamela loved nursing. Her first rotation was at a children's hospital where she contracted chicken pox and was sent home on the bus. She worked there during the height of the polio epidemic and one of her best friends contracted polio. Pamela completed her nursing training in 1947 staying on at a psychiatric unit. She applied to the Crown Street Women's Hospital for midwifery training and worked there until her father became ill and she went to care for him. After his death she went to Sydney to work as a midwife.

In 1953, Pamela and a friend decided to travel to England. England was still rationing food when they arrived. Pamela had one time explained that she did not care for candy but did like the coupons for chocolate. She rented a flat where heat was coin operated and then Pamela registered for private duty after receiving a license to nurse in England. After several months, Pamela sailed on to France and then went by Army truck down to Paris. She returned to England briefly and then took a boat to New York. She went on to Boston for a few months and then traveled Highway 66 to California to visit her stepsister, Joan. From there she took a bus to Portland, Oregon where she began work at St. Vincent's Hospital in Labor and delivery. During this time she met Vivian David Blomquist and they married in December of 1954.

Pamela returned to Australia to complete her nursing program and then immigrated to the USA in 1955 as Pamela Marie Blomquist. Pamela joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1955. She had two sons, Vernon J. Blomquist and Dennis J. Blomquist. The family purchased a farm and moved to Zillah where Pamela became a school nurse at Wapato High School in 1967.

Vivian passed away in 1976. Following this event, the family sold the farm and moved to Toppenish. Vernon and Dennis each graduated high school and entered college, join the military, and married. Pamela moved to Portland and attended OHSU graduating with her bachelors in 1981. Pamela welcomed the first of six grandchildren in 1982. She returned many times to Australia and visited Europe. During her visits and throughout her life she accomplished a large amount of research on her family history as an avid genealogist. She also assisted countless others with information about their family heritage. Pamela had begun to knit when she was nine years old. Skilled with her hands, she crafted in many ways including knitting, crochet, and cross stitch. In 2006, Pamela put her knitting skills into action creating and crafting dolls, dogs, ducks, and more as gifts for her posterity. She created over 100 knitted characters, infusing them with her love and giving them stories and personalities. Robert Winston Merrell began courting Pamela in 2008 following the passing of his first wife, Jeanette Merrell. Robert and Pamela had known each other since 1955, when Robert had taught her about the LDS Church and baptized her. They married in January of 2009 and She became the stepmother to Steven R. Merrell, Ronald J. Merrell, Melvin C. Merrell, Kenneth W. Merrell, and David J. Merrell. During the spring and summer of 2010, Pamela battled with her heart and lungs finally succeeding and returning home in the fall. She continued her genealogy and knitting, welcoming her first great grandson in 2013. On May 27, 2014, Pamela Marie Merrell passed away in Portland, Oregon at the age of 88. She is survived by her husband, Robert. Pamela was interred at the Elmwood Cemetery in Toppenish, Washington.