Pamela Ann McLean

Pamela Ann McLean was born August 6, 1958, in Washington DC.  The fifth of six children born to Max C. McLean and Virginia Claire Winfree. Pam had four sisters and one brother. As an adult, she  lived in Fairfax, and Arlington, Virginia; West Point, Mississippi; Lewes, Delaware; Denver, Manitou Springs, and Lakewood, Colorado.

Pam, as she was known, was a powerful life force. She lived life at full speed. Her energy level was boundless, sometimes exhausting to others who had less energy than her. She had a quick wit, and she loved telling stories.  She could always entertain and make folks laugh.

Pam loved all children. And they loved her.  She had many nieces and nephews, many of whom have gone on to have their own children. She never had any children of her own but she was a favorite Aunt for many of her siblings' and friends' offspring.  Pam would always have a treasure or an adventure of some sort to share with kids. She loved to cuddle babies, and give and receive hugs and kisses along with treasures and adventures. Pam had a keen sense of fairness.   She was the self-appointed defender of the weak, downtrodden and outcast of society. She had no patience for cruelty, injustice or willful ignorance.

Pam had a varied work history.  She worked in hospitality, sales and other varied fields. This included serving food, bartending, catering; selling real estate, cars, satellite TV; driving a taxi, plus a few administrative positions. Pam had two different antique shops in her life and sold items on ebay.  She knew how to find bargains, and how to turn them into profit. This is a skill she learned from our mother Virginia  McLean, an antiques dealer. It supplemented Pam's income for at least the last 25 years of her life. And she enjoyed it immensely.  Her last job was one that she really loved, she was conductor on the Manitou - Pikes Peak Cog Railway. At least twice a day Pam rode the train up to the summit of Pikes Peak, 14,115 feet above sea level. She got to tell stories on the way up. Then on the way back down she got to chat with passengers, let kids try on her hat, and generally entertain, and enjoy people."

Pam enjoyed learning on her own terms, and always had a book or two that she was reading. She loved adventure and gained as much joy out of life as it had to offer. She revered the natural world.   She loved all animals, birds, plants,the ocean, shells, rocks and crystals. Pam had numerous friends all over the world, and through facebook, she reconnected with many friends from childhood.

She loved to travel and had seen many parts of The United States. In 1986 Pam traveled to Scotland with her father Max McLean. This was a lifetime dream. She got to visit Duart Castle, the ancient seat of the Clan MacLean on the Isle of Mull in Scotland. She dreamed of seeing so many other places, but unfortunately did not have unlimited funds. 

In April 2022,  Pam was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, too soon.  ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that has no cure and ends in death. After ALS robbed her of her life force bit by bit over one years time. Pamela McLean passed peacefully in her sleep in Lakewood, Colorado on April 16, 2023

Predeceased by: Max C. McLean, father; Virginia Winfree McLean, mother; Timothy Logan McLean, brother; Patrick Daniel Cleveland, and Max Miller nephews; and Connor Miles Belnap, great nephew.  

Survived by: Sisters Patricia Lee Vaughan, Donna McLean Cleveland, Karen McLean Copeland, Heather McLean Paris.  Nieces and Nephews:  Kyle Vaughan, Elizabeth Belnap, Mike Law, Carrie Cleveland, Eliot Cleveland, Levi Cleveland, Lila Miller, Heather Usry, Ned Miller, Roxanne Barker, Bryan Paris. Great Nieces & Nephews: Miller Usry, Lila Usry, Ceilidh Wimmer, Chase Belnap, Carson Belnap, Ben Dise, Edy and Esme Cleveland. Rock, Max and Lana Cleveland, Felix and Hugo Barker,  Lucy and Emma Law.  Leandra and Aeva Cleveland.

Pam did not want a funeral service, so we are respecting her wishes.  We will have a family celebration in her memory later in the Summer.

In lieu of flowers, we request a donation to the ALS Association in the name of Pamela Ann McLean