Pamela Lee Maki

Pamela Lee Maki (née Dechon), 65, went to meet her Lord, October 24, 2018, after a long battle with cancer. Pamela was a fighter right to the end. Her spirit and love will always be remembered. Hearts will never heal from the loss of such a beloved and devoted sister, friend, and "Auntie Pam" as some knew her.

She was born December 29, 1952, in Aberdeen, MD, to her parents, Dorothy Adele Dechon (née Crippen) and John Francis Dechon.

Pamela moved often being in a military family, including spending two tours in Germany. They had the advantage and privilege of living in Europe and visiting Spain, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and France during some summer vacations -- traveling in a red & white 1961 VW Campervan -- and the family usually stayed at campgrounds instead of hotels, meeting many other vacationers from various countries doing the very same. On one vacation the family spent almost the entire Summer at a campground in Puerto de la Selva, Spain. One day, they even saw General Francisco Franco's yacht passing by.

After her father's first tour to Germany in the early 1950s, when he was assigned to work near the Pentagon, the family moved to Fairfax, VA, for almost 4 years, then in 1961 left for another tour to Germany for 3 more years. When that ended, the family moved to El Paso, TX, as her father's final military assignment in his military career was Ft. Bliss, TX, in 1964. There she attended Lamar Elementary and El Paso High School. Her last visit to Europe some years later was to Frieberg, Germany. Upon her return to the USA she made her way again to El Paso and later to Northwest Arkansas.

Pamela had a wonderful award-winning career in the hospitality industry. Starting in Northwest Arkansas. She changed her whole life when her mother became elderly (and in poor health) by moving back to Texas to take care of her. In the late 1990s Pam and her mother moved to Rio Rancho, NM. There she became a Traveling Problem Solver, then General Manager of a hotel. Some years later, and after her mom had passed in 2005, Pam moved to Albuquerque, NM.

She changed career paths when she joined Edward Jones Investments in 2009, and eventually became the Sr. Branch Office Administrator (BOA) for the Riverside Plaza office in Rio Rancho. She was a member of the Edward Jones Climate Control Committee, was instrumental in starting the fabulous Bracelet B.O.A awards program region-wide as a way to recognize the BOAs contribution to their branch team’s success and received a nice piece of jewelry to wear proudly.

She was offered the honor to be a limited partner of the firm last month, based on her helping to run a profitable and ethical branch as well as her countless hours of volunteer work to help other branches succeed.

She received the esteemed Ted Jones Spirit of Caring Award: Her peers in the region-wide voted for her to receive this award, designed to recognize BOAs who exemplify the values, culture, and spirit of giving back. It is given to a BOA who has contributed to the success of the other BOAs, branch team, the region and the firm.

Her love for animals was a large part of her life as she had many beloved dogs through the years -- her last being 2 boston terriers, Trixie and Zoe, both of whom she lost this year (these two dogs are seen with Pam in her obituary picture).

She loved her extended family’s Kelly and Butch's farm in Arkansas -- cooking, fishing with Butch, light gambling, travel, museums, the Balloon Festival, Northwest Arkansas, eating at her favorite restaurants -- and spending time with friends and family.

She will be forever remembered by her brother, John Clay Dechon; sister, Hanni Claire Hernandez (née Dechon); long time best friend, Kelly Joan Hatfield, many friends, clients and coworkers.  She was preceded in death by her mother, father, and brother, Mark William Dechon.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, November 1, 2018, at 6:00 p.m. at FRENCH-Westside. A Rosary and Memorial Mass will be on Monday, November 5, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 1502 Sara Rd SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124. Please visit our online guestbook for Pamela at www.frenchfunerals.com.

FRENCH-Westside

9300 Golf Course Rd NW

505-897-0300