Pamela Sue Surratt

She is survived by her loving family, her husband of 40 years, Chuck Surratt; daughter, Melissa (Dan) Piatkowski; son, Chip (Dianne) Surratt; grandchildren, Petra Piatkowski, Claire Surratt, and Phoebe Piatkowski; and sister, Melissa (Steve) Rowell. Pam was preceded in death by her parents, John and Jeanne Clark, and brother, David Clark.

Pam graduated from Walton High School and went on to study at St. Lawrence University where she was in Alpha Delta Pi Sorority. She graduated in 1969 and moved to Boston where Pam earned a Master’s Degree from Boston College in Social Work. Pam’s first job was at Rome State School, in Rome, NY, working with children with special needs. In 1973 Pam moved to Colorado, after falling in love with the mountains on an earlier visit, where she then started a job with Jefferson County Social Services.

Pam met Chuck during their work together on a juvenile diversion grant program. They found many common interests - skiing, fly fishing, hiking, and camping. In March of 1979, Pam and Chuck were married, and in 1981 their daughter Melissa was born. Two years later, they had their son, Chip.

Pam stayed home with Melissa and Chip for the first several years, and then began to work again part time as a social worker for foster families while at the same time helping Chuck build their dream home on Douglas Mountain Drive in Golden. She also began to volunteer as a leader of a Multiple Sclerosis support group, meeting monthly to provide support and counseling for people suffering from MS.

In her early 40’s, Pam began working as a social worker for Jeffco Public Schools. She worked for several elementary schools over the years, where she met many wonderful people who have remained close friends of the family. Pam went on to take a position with Campbell Elementary. She returned to school to obtain a Master's in Psychology enabling her to provide different types of treatment for the youth she worked with.

Pam retired with the same dream as always; to continue her adventures through backpacking, fishing, traveling the world, and volunteer work. Throughout her retirement, she and Chuck took cruise ship trips, road trips (Pam loved traveling in their motor home), and flew to hither and yon, including almost all 50 states, Canada, Europe, Venezuela, Jamaica, and Mexico.

Pam’s greatest joy in life has been her children and grandchildren. She was overjoyed to welcome all three of her granddaughters over the last few years - Petra in 2014, Claire in 2017, and Phoebe in 2018.

Pam spent countless hours in the last years of her life washing, folding, and organizing clothes for the Serving Kids program for Jefferson County Schools. She loved the work, and especially the people she met there. She found enormous comfort and inspiration in God, and in her Shepherd of the Hills family. She was extremely committed to her Bible Study group, and became an Elder at her church.

Pam has had an incredible impact on hundreds of us over the years. We are so grateful to have known her and to have been lucky enough to share our journeys with her. She is still here with us in the Rocky Mountain air.

In Memory of Pam, her family has asked that memorial contributions may be made in Pam's name to causes serving children; these are all the ways people can donate to serving kids:

> These are the 3 options to donate:

1. donate using the donate button on the website http://www.jeffcoschoolsfoundation.org/conditions-to-learn--serving-kids-clothing-program.html There is a spot that says "special instruction" and that is where they would put Serving Kids and Pam's name.

2. donate through Colorado Gives which has a specific place to put where the donation should be directed "Serving Kids" and a place to put "In memory of"

3 send a check to the office at 809 Quail St., Bldg #1, Lakewood CO 80215. The check should be made out to Jeffco Schools Foundation with Serving Kids and Pam's name in the memo line.

Memorial service Saturday, December 22, 2018, 10am at Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church, 11500 W. 20th Ave., Lakewood, Colorado 80215.