Pamela Newman

Pamela Mechele passed away unexpectedly at home leaving an indelible void for her friends and family. Pam was a beloved mother to Allison, Bret, Margaret “Maggie”, Julianna “Annie”, beloved wife to Adam, and an incredible grandmother to Charlotte, Genavieve and Marilyn.

Born in Kingsport, TN to Loretta and Delmar Ray Gardner, she grew up in Norton, VA. Pam graduated from high school early and moved to Tucson where she pursued a nursing career while simultaneously raising her small children, Allison and Bret. Working arduously to provide for her two small children, she worked many long hours as an ER nurse at several local hospitals in Tucson. She elevated her career and successfully became the Prehospital Coordinator where she supervised over 300 paramedics and EMT's. She retired shortly before the birth of her daughter, Maggie, to pursue what she always described as her most important title: “Mom”.

After her daughters Maggie and Annie became school age, Pam fulfilled two academic dreams – obtaining her Masters in Administrative Nursing and a Law Degree with a health concentration from Indiana University. She was the first person in IU history to obtain a Masters and Law degree simultaneously. She accomplished all of this while still being Mom, Wife, Friend and never missing any of our children’s sporting or school events.

Pam was a devoted mother to Allison, Bret, Maggie, and Annie and grandmother to Charlotte, Genavieve, and Marilyn. They were her pride and joy. She always said that motherhood changed her life for the better, and they felt that in the love and support she provided. Finally she was a dedicated “Dog Grandma” to Dewey and Ollie.

Pam was preceded in death by her father Delmar Ray and her younger brother Jonathan and is survived by her mother Loretta and niece Alyssa as well as numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins who will never forget the love she brought to their lives.

There are no words that can encapsulate our love for Pam and how much she will be missed.

We will be hosting a celebration of her life at East Lawn Palms Mortuary in Tucson on October 25 at 4:30pm

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Pam’s name to: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN., or SPCA of East Texas in Tyler, TX