Pamela Boyette was born in Rome, Georgia on January 28, 1956 to Robert Tracy Gresham and Edna Lorene Gresham (McCool). She attended grade school and high school in Rome, graduating from Coosa High School in 1974.
Shortly afterwards in October 1974 she joined the United States Navy. She went through Aerographer's Mate training at Lakehurst, NJ, eventually being assigned to Naval Station Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. After a medical issue she left the service, receiving an honorable discharge in 1976. Afterwards she found employment as a Meteorological Technician with the National Weather Service in New Orleans, LA and later Milwaukee, WI, recording weather observations.
After marriage to her first husband Brad Maisto, she moved to Minneapolis, later being invited to the FAA Academy in pursuit of a career in Air Traffic Control. During this time she had her first son, Dax Nathan, born on July 18, 1980. Soon after she graduated from the academy she was assigned as a trainee at the FAA Tower in Terre Haute, Indiana. That career was cut short by the nationwide air traffic controllers strike but following quickly was the birth of her second son, Ian Justin, on March 15, 1982.
She pursued higher education between jobs and enrolled at Butler University, where she made the Dean's List in her studies. Unfortunately, she was not able to complete her degree after moving back to Georgia due to divorce.
Continuing her civil service she re-entered the National Weather Service, being assigned to the Old Hickory, Tennessee Weather Service Meteorological Office, where she was trained to take upper air and radar observations in the greater Nashville area.
As if by divine providence, she was sent to radar training in Kansas City, MO in 1986 exactly when a Steven Douglas Boyette, at the time a NWS meteorologist intern, was also sent for training. After a long distance relationship and several cross-country visits, the two were married on June 29, 1987.
Shortly thereafter a third son was born, Elliot Vincent, on July 25, 1988. The two moved the family to Portland, TN where they continued to work for the NWS in Nashville. Later, Doug was transferred to Memphis, TN in 1990, and Pam followed suit with a Memphis assignment of her own. After her years of federal service she left the NWS in 2005, while Doug continued until retirement in 2021.
Pamela was a creative spark and enjoyed many hobbies throughout her life. Needlepoint and crochet, art sales, reading paperback Stephen King novels, watching horror films and caring for stray animals.
She was a winter weather person, especially ice storms, where she saw beauty more than any worry or inconvenience. Tragically, she didn't get to see her last ice storm, which blanketed the Memphis area and seemed to herald her passing on February 1.
She is survived by her loving husband Doug Boyette and their three children: Dax, Ian, and Elliot. Her mother Lorene Gresham, her niece and nephew Erin and Lance, as well as many grandchildren who loved her dearly. She will be sorely missed.
As a devout Christian she loved the Christmas season deeply. Picking out the tree from Priddy Farms was an annual tradition that couldn’t be missed following Thanksgiving dinner. She will be laid to rest on Saturday, February 11 at 10 a.m. at Memorial Gardens just up the street from those fields of Christmas pines. We love you so much.
A gathering of family and friends for Pamela will be held Saturday, February 11, 2023 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 North Germantown Parkway, Bartlett, TN 38133. A funeral service will occur Saturday, February 11, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM, 3700 North Germantown Parkway, Bartlett, TN 38133. A committal service will occur Saturday, February 11, 2023 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, 3700 North Germantown Parkway, Bartlett, TN 38133.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemphisFuneralGermantownParkway.com for the Boyette family.
FAMILY
Doug BoyetteLoving Husband
Dax, Ian, and ElliotThree Children
Lorene GreshamMother
Erin and LanceNiece and Nephew
as well as many grandchildren who loved her dearly
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