Pamela Mae (Staggs) Wilson

    Growing up, I did not know the origins of my grandmother. I did not know where she came from, her past, or even any of my extended family members outside of who I grew up around when I was little. What I did know was that Pamela Wilson was always there, for me as long as I could remember. I don't ever remember a time where grandma wasn't there, until last week. I remember eating her beef stew every christmas. I remember the ten, twenty, or hundred dollar bills every birthday as she whispered not to tell my cousins, calling me "her favorite and only grandson" and making Jack O'lanterns every Halloween. I remember going to her trailer every weekend when I was young to eat ice cream and play video games with Danny while Grandma laid comfortably in her bedroom. I remember for the past two years, grandma buying me sandwiches, Ben and Jerry's, and even chocolate truffles after she picked me up from junior college.

    I remember grandma being generally accepting and smiling about some of my bizarre opinions, mannerisms, and off-color humor. Grandma was always a very generous person, regardless of how it affected her own livelihood. Grandma's happy, stable personality was  always a refreshing change from my high-strung and overstressed nuclear family that was all-too-often only focused on the current situation. This calm stability was because grandma never worried about anything, even when she was never financially blessed, when the cancer spread through her body, or when her mind started to slip shortly before passing alone on her couch of natural causes at the age of 66 at the same time the fire destroyed my home.

    Grandma dedicated her life to her children and grandchildren, and as I move on without her, I still feel the memories that shaped my childhood, that in turn shaped who I am. When grandma died, I had lost nearly everything: both my physical possessions, home, and one of the last people regularly in my life as a real, tangible force. But I feel okay with this, because I know grandma was ready, regardless of her young age, because I know she fulfilled what she came here for. I feel like my grandma was here for me, that she stuck around just as long as we needed. Grandma was a positive influence in my life when I needed it the most. Grandma was less a person and more a force of nature who helped the grass and trees grow. Grandma was the sun and the water and the wind, she still is.

- Dakota Perkins, Grandson

    Pamela Mae Staggs Wilson grew up in Fairfax California with her mother Clara Audra Carpenter - Staggs and her father Wayne Staggs. Pam's siblings: five sisters - Diane, Carol, Earleen, Rhonda, Terry, and her brother Gene. She has two daughters: Mekiele Hincks Perkins and Leoura Hincks Phrampus and six grand children and one step grand child: Myriah Hincks, Christina Phrampus, Katrina Phrampus, Dakota Perkins, Raven Perkins, and Rhiannon Perkins. Jenny Mitchell has always been grandma's grandchild and the word Step was never mentioned. On the way but not here yet - Grandma Pam would have become a great grandma!! Pam moved to Sonoma many years ago and worked as a psychiatric technician at Sonoma Developmental Center for 25 years and then became a behavioral or medical aide for school age children through ANOVA. Pam Wilson always had a huge heart and always opened her heart and her home to humans and animals alike needing help. She loved sunbathing along the banks of the Russian river, red tail hawks, Blue grass music, and when her social anxiety allowed her - hanging out with friends at the Jack London Lodge or at the Blue Moon Salon.

Her Celebration of Life will be held on top of Mount Tamalpais State Park's East Peak on 11/11 at 2pm. Email or call for map of the location. Raven8130@hotmail.com

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