Pam McDonald

Nancy Pamela Givan McDonald passed away June 8, 2022. She was born May 15, 1946, in Cedar City, Utah. Her parents were Bertrand Thomas Givan and Ina Orissa Hansen Givan. When Pam was age eight, the family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. She attended Skyline High School and participated in many school activities.

Pam always wanted to be a school teacher. As a child, she and her friends would play pretend school. Pam was always the teacher.

Growing up, Pam was given lessons in piano, singing, dance, and other activities that helped prepare her to be a teacher. As a dancer, she was able to dance in the Ballet West Nutcracker Ballet.

Pam attended the University of Utah and was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority. She was a member of the Ute-Tahanas (the forerunners to the Crimson Line) and served as president. She graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Elementary Education. Later she earned a master's degree in Early Childhood Development.

She married Richard McDonald and raised three wonderful children. Each had their own miracle arrival. They were her pride and joy. She was a loving, caring, and often demanding mother.

She taught kindergarten, first grade, and sometimes school chorus for forty-one years. She was always prepared. She spent many extra hours and her own money to meet the needs of her classes and each individual child. She was the first in the building in the morning and the last to leave at night. Her classes were fun. They sang lots of songs and memorized poems. She hatched chickens and ducks in the classroom. She searched for and collected Monarch caterpillars and brought them to the classroom for the children to watch them change into butterflies. They rode Amtrac and the Heber Creeper.

Pam was recognized many times for her teaching excellence. She was awarded Teacher of the Year and received the Utah State Legislator’s Commendation in recognition of excellence in education. No matter where we went, former students and their parents would always come to say hello to one of their favorite teachers. Many former students invited her to their weddings.

Her family was her devotion. She seldom missed a swim meet, tennis match, baseball game (she drove the umpires nuts by standing behind them to be sure they made the correct call), school programs, singing and piano recitals. She enjoyed hosting or attending family get-togethers: weddings, birthdays, graduations… Her family loves to be together. Maybe her favorite was Christmas Eve sleepovers. She and her husband were very devoted to each other. Their 55th wedding anniversary was June 7th, 2022.

She enjoyed being the Primary Chorister, and the preparation and presentations of the Primary Sacrament Meeting program. She also taught piano lessons from home for many years. She loved music and she loved her students.

She is survived by her husband, Richard McDonald, Tommy Givan (brother), Sharon Cooney (sister), Heidi Adair (daughter), Tiffany Sperry (daughter), Richie McDonald (son), eight grandchildren, and one great-grandson.

A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at 12 noon at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park located at 3401 South Highland Drive Millcreek, Utah.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity.