Pamela Diann Cummings Schutze (70), our beautiful wife, mother, sister, grandmother and friend, left this earth much too soon to be with Jesus on Thursday, October 3rd, in Austin, after a painful battle over the past year with kidney cancer. She passed away peacefully at Seton Main Hospital.
Pam, as she was called by all, was born on June 12, 1949, at the old Seton Hospital and adopted on the day of her birth by Lindsey Montgomery and Willie Vin (“Bill”) Cummings.
In 10th grade, Pam was living in a house on Shoalwood in Allendale and attending McCallum High School where she met Robert “Butch” Schutze, a senior, who lived just down the street from her (and would often be out in front of his house “working” on his car). Her junior year, she and her sister, Pat, decided to attend Round Rock High School, where Pam graduated from in 1967. She was very involved at RRHS, serving as a Dragonette officer, cheerleader, homecoming queen and senior favorite, to name a few.
After graduating from high school, Pam had a short stint in California before returning to Austin for good. She was employed for a brief time as a flight attendant for Trans Texas Airways. While working for Trans Texas, she began dating Robert (who had a new car but the same need to be out front “working” on it) and they married soon after. She also worked for North Austin State Bank and Lamar Savings before she settled into her long-term career with the University of Texas, where she was employed for 32 years. Over the course of her career, Pam wore many hats with UT in payroll, compensation and human resources. Robert also worked for UT, and they would drive to work together every day for those thirty plus years! At various times, they only had one car – because that was all that they needed, as they were always together!
Pam adored the card game of bridge and was a member of one 2-table group for almost 40 years. After retirement, she added 3 additional bridge groups to her list of fun, as well as a Bunco group, and filled in at other bridge and Bunco groups when they needed an extra player! Her love of games and puzzles was shared with family and friends (even Robert would reluctantly be brought into an occasional card game) and was often used by her as a way to just spend time with those she loved. Although, behind that “I’m so glad you won that hand” façade was a competitive streak; however, she would always “apologize” before playing a skip card on one of her grandchildren!
She and Robert were very active in their church – Brentwood Oaks Church of Christ – for almost 50 years and served as small group leaders for the last several years. The Brentwood Oaks church family was her family and so many of them were lovingly by her side during these last few months.
Pam’s amazing fight over the past ten months was not fought alone. In addition to her family and her amazing church family, Pam was aided by the most incredible care givers. From Dr. Cuellar, her surgeon, to the techs, nurses and palliative care team at Seton Main and Seton Northwest, Pam could not have had better support and care in this fight. The care she received just mirrored the care she gave to so many others over the years, done out of service and out of love.
She is survived by Robert, her loving, doting husband of 51 too short years. She is also survived by her only child, Rhonda Schutze Crocker and husband, Scott Crocker, recently of San Antonio; grandchildren Carlee Crocker of Dallas and Courtney Crocker of Austin; sister Pat Kirksey and husband Ken Kirksey of Austin; sister in law Linda Clawson and husband Bill Clawson of Dripping Springs; sister in law Jill Burnett and husband Don Burnett of Austin; nieces, nephews, cousins and countless friends who became family.
Pam enjoyed so much in life! She loved reading, gardening, working out at Curves, and being the impeccable hostess. She was an incredible cook and took great pride and joy in showering friends and family with new and tried and true recipes. She loved the Texas Coast and she and Robert would go there several times a year, with or without the grandkids. Most of all, she relished every moment with her family …vacations, eating out or serving her delicious cooking, playing games, putting puzzles together, spending time talking, or just simply being together.
Pam was a child of God and was so grounded in her faith. She savored and often shared daily bible readings and scriptures, and leaves behind a remarkable legacy of servant hood to her church and her community. She had endless energy, always seeking out ways to care for others, from bringing her amazing food to those in need to reaching into her bottomless box of greeting cards to find the perfect one to lift someone’s spirit. She was a perfect example of what a servant heart looks like.
She was the glue of our family: she made the plans, the menus, the shopping lists, the surprises, the fun, the sparkle! She was a girl at heart! Pam was fun, lovely, caring, wise, the most patient, friendly, kindhearted, genuine, selfless, and joyful person with the biggest heart! And, she did it all with the most infectious smile that always made you feel better, feel loved.
To say she will be missed beyond measure is such an understatement...as we already long for our eternal reunion!
Please join us in celebrating her amazing life Saturday morning October 19, 2019 at 11:30 a.m. at Brentwood Oaks Church of Christ. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org.
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