Pamela Jensen Mullis – March 14, 1957 – October 6, 2013

 

Pam is now cancer free.  Her quest to be cancer free ended yesterday, October 6, 2013, at 3:45pm.  Family and friends surrounded her with love and affection at the time of her passing. 

Her battle began last December when she was diagnosed with stomach cancer.  In January, she was told that she would need to have chemotherapy for the rest of her life and that might give her a little more than 12 months.  However, without chemotherapy, she would likely die within 3-6 months.  She chose to forego chemotherapy and actively fight the cancer with a variety of other approaches.  At the time of her passing, it had been almost 10 months.  Pam exhibited bravery in her decision and fought valiantly and courageously until the very end.  Of course, Pam could not do anything any other way.

Her life was one of great faith and trust in the Lord and his teachings.  She worked to become more compassionate and Christlike in her actions and service to others. Her greatest service was to her husband, Glen Richard Mullis and her 8 children…Jason (Jodi), Shaun (Melanie), Jennifer Payne (Jason), Eric (Marinda), Ryan (Alexis), Amanda Shumway (Alex), Kristyn and Kari.  However, through various leadership callings in her church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and many behind the scenes acts of kindness, she was able to expand her service to countless others. 

She loved to work with the Young Women of the Church.  During her illness, many young women shared their personal stories of how she had touched their lives and of the impact she had made on them.  She especially loved to go to Girl’s Camp with “her” girls. 

She also loved to participate in the Relief Society, the Women’s organization in her Church.  She had developed many skills by participation in that organization and loved to share them with others.  Many great relationships were forged with the Sisters and Pam cherished each one.

When I first met Pam, I quickly noticed her huge, friendly smile and her desire to help others. Over the years, these qualities continue to grow ever more lovely and beautiful as her inward spirituality radiated in outward appearance.  While cancer took its toll on her physical body, her inner beauty continued to grow and she radiated love and concern for others despite her own personal challenges.  God definitely spend a little more time on her.

As her husband, I will miss my sweetheart and friend.  I was always uplifted by her smile and appreciated all of her love, support and help throughout our 35 years together.    While I wanted many more years, I am grateful and consider it a privilege to have had the 35 years.  I will miss our conversations and her counsel….and, yes, even the differences of opinion.  I will miss being by her side at Church, at BYU games and taking vacations together.  I will miss being grandparents with her to Landon, Kiera, Caden, Rylan, Dallin, Logan, William, Emery and all of the others that will be coming along.  I will miss her.

Our children and grandchildren will also miss her love and acts of service to them.  She continually would be on the look out for really cool Christmas gifts for her grandchildren throughout the year.  They will miss their friend and confidant.  They will remember her example and great devotion to God  and her commitment to each one of them.  Her children have been a great blessing to her throughout her life and especially during this battle with cancer as they have willingly dedicated themselves to helping their mother.  It has been a great strength to see their love and devotion to her. They truly were taught by their mother.

Pam will be rejoined with her parents, Gerald and Helen Jensen, who passed away earlier.  In fact, her mother also had stomach cancer and passed way when Pam was 16.  With her mother’s passing, a special woman, Teresa, came into her life as her step mother.  She filled the role of “grandmother” with a great affection.  When her father passed, Teresa brought a very loving man, Jack Leavitt, and his family into the family circle. 

Pam is survived by 4 brothers (Norman (Bonnie), Nephi (Ruby), Raymond (Charlotte)and Gregory(Donna) and a sister (Rosemary Bell (Tom).   Over the past few months, they have been instrumental in helping to take care of Pam and the family, especially Charlotte and Rosemary.  Words can not express the love and gratitude we have for all of her family.

We also express deepest appreciation to the Ward Family.  The Bishop, home and visiting teachers and a whole host of others have helped ease our burden through their acts of kindness and service.  We have had a yard full of the ward family doing yard work, countless visits with flowers and cards, many outstanding meals and treats, and the blessing of the sacrament brought to our home by the Aaronic Priesthood.  We appreciate all of these efforts and the friendship and love we felt from the ward members.

We also express our appreciation to all of our family and friends who have been here for our family through visits, cards, letters and emails.  The comments on the blog and on Facebook have also been appreciated.

We also extend a special thanks to those in the medical profession who have assisted Pam throughout her battle.  Dr. Jeffrey Wright and the team at the Utah Valley Health Clinic were extremely supportive to both Pam and the family.  We thank the nursing staff at Timpanogas Regional Hospital as well as the staff at First Choice Home and Hospice Care, especially Megan, Brittany, Jeanine, Spencer and Sarah.

For those who can make it, please join the family in celebrating Pam’s life at the Anderson Mortuary in American Fork from 6:00 to 8:00pm on Tuesday, October 8, 2013.  The address is 49 East 100 North (phone 801 756 3564).

The funeral will be held at the Ward Chapel at 11605 North 6000 West in Highland, Utah at 10:00am on Wednesday, October 9, 2013.  A brief visitation will be held from 8:45am until 9:45am prior to the funeral.

While flowers are always appreciated, feel free to make donations on Pam’s behalf to any organizations that fight cancer, especially stomach cancer.  You may also consider making donations to the LDS Humanitarian organization on her behalf as well.

Thanks again for all the love and support by so many of you during this challenge.  It reflects the love that Pam gave to others throughout her life.  She make a huge impact in the lives of so many.  She will be missed by all that knew her, especially her family.  However, we look forward to the day when we can be re-united with her as a family….forever!