Biography: Pamela DeCaro McKelvey, 67, died in her home on January 30, 2012 after an extended illness. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, she was born September 30, 1944, to the late Sam and Helen Hora DeCaro. Pam grew up in Memphis, was educated there, and began her professional life as a respiratory therapist. As fate would have it on April 4, 1968, Pam was on duty at St. Joseph Hospital in Memphis and was part of the medical team that tried in vain to save the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., after he had been shot by a sniper while standing on the balcony of his room at the Lorraine Motel. After marrying a young physician in Memphis, Pam moved with him to Little Rock in 1972 where she raised her daughters, Samantha and Betsy McKelvey. Later, as an ardent dieter, she became a nutritional counselor and worked for twelve years at the Diet Center of Little Rock where she vicariously enjoyed the joys and successes of her dieters who inevitably became her friends. A spiritual woman, Pam was a faithful Catholic and member of Holy Souls Catholic Church. Until her illness she rarely missed attending mass at Holy Souls or in the chapel at St. Vincent Medical Infirmary which was near her Hillcrest home. Pam also possessed an enviable sense of humor and dry wit, and there was no such thing as ?an awkward moment of silence? when she was present. During those moments of ?no silence,? Pam could always be counted on to say precisely whatever was on her mind. A warm and gregarious person, Pam loved parties, especially planning and hosting dinner events for her family and friends where her ?famous, secret recipe? meatballs were always a crowd favorite. Another of her ?loves? was football and she never tired of wagering and often winning bets with family members. An active and long-time member of the Country Club of Little Rock, Pam enjoyed playing bridge, having lunch with friends, and watching her grandchildren swim there. Pam is survived by her daughters, Samantha McKelvey, MD, and husband, Brian Teeter, Betsy McKelvey Peeler and husband, Michael Peeler; granddaughter, Helen McKelvey Teeter; her step-son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Kent David McKelvey, Jr., Sheryl McKelvey, and their children, Kent David McKelvey, III and Caroline McKelvey, all of Little Rock. Pam is also survived by her sister, Donna DeCaro Turner and husband, Bart Turner of Marion, AR and her brother, Charlie DeCaro. The family request that in lieu of flowers, memorials in Pam?s honor be made to The Cord Blood Bank of Arkansas, 1-855-854-2222, http:// www.cordbloodbankarkansas.org/donate/. A memorial service will be held at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church on Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 11 a.m. Following the service the family will greet friends at a reception at the church. Pam?s remains will be placed in the Columbarium Garden at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.
Samantha I am so sorry to hear about your Mom.
My prayers and thoughts are with you and your
family.
Maureen