Pamela Ann (Duncan) Wallander was born in Yuma, Arizona, on May 21, 1958, to AJ and Norma Jean (Smith) Duncan. The Lord called her home on December 14, 2022, at the age of 64.
Pam was raised in Arroll, MO, and graduated from Summersville High School in 1976. On June 26, 1976, she married Terry Wallander and had two children; Jason & Jesse.
Pam overcame many obstacles during her short time on earth. Being born deaf impacted her daily life. At a very young age, she taught herself to read lips. She would place her hand on the TV speakers to feel the vibrations and watch people speak. In bed at night when it was too dark to read lips, she would put her hand on her sister’s neck while she talked so they could communicate. Her family worked together to teach her to speak, but she struggled to say words correctly due to her hearing. Because of these things, people called her the deaf, dumb, and blind girl, but it was exactly these things that made her daughter proud to share her story with the students she taught over the years.
In 1990, Pam lost her husband and was left to raise two kids on her own. She was a great mom. Over the years, she also became a “mom” to the many friends her kids brought in and out of her home. Pam loved spending time with family. She was especially proud of the accomplishments of her grandchildren. Whether it was pitching a no-hitter in baseball, hitting a game-winner in basketball, or scoring the highest on academic tests, she would share every detail with anyone she met. Pam loved the Lord with all her heart. She would read the Bible for hours and write scriptures in a notebook. She loved to tell stories from the Bible to her children and grandchildren. She also loved to sing about the Lord, and even though she was awful at singing, we will miss hearing her sing “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.”
Pam is survived by her son, Jason (Lora) Wallander; daughter, Jesse (Corey) Gaines; grandchildren, Garrett (Emmalee) Wallander, Jasmyne, Jaden, and Terry Wallander and Terrell Gaines; sister, Debbie Wills; brother, Chris (Beth) Duncan, and many nieces, nephews, and in-laws whom she loved dearly.
She was reunited in heaven with many family and friends, including her grandma, Opal Smith, father, AJ Duncan, mother, Norma Jean Duncan, and her husband, Terry Wallander, whom she had waited 32 long years to see again.
We take comfort in knowing that she is now at peace and can hear the angels singing with her perfect ears.
