Pamela Kay (Beers) Hughes was born in Cottage Grove, Ore. to Howard Robert Beers and Nora Loueen (Ballard) Beers. She lived in the Cottage Grove area her entire life, graduating from Cottage Grove High School in 1973.
Being Howard’s daughter, Pam grew up learning the importance of being a hard worker – even as a child taking her siblings to work at the bean fields. She worked at the Cottage Grove Dairy Queen for 17 years alongside her siblings, several cousins and one niece at various times. Pam had several other restaurant and service jobs as well. She retired from Wal-Mart in 2018 after 17 years.
Pam was introduced to David Hughes at the Dairy Queen by her uncle Jennings Beers who worked with Hughes at the Weyerhaeuser sawmill. They were married on April 4, 1975. Her greatest treasures were their children, Corey and Lacey, who were only surpassed when she finally became “Grammy” to Carley Kay Hougan and Nora Rae Hougan.
Pam was known for many years for the baby blankets she would make for friends and family newborns and continued making sure all her nieces, nephews and other kids in her life knew she loved them through random gifts. She strived, and thrived, at being a good “hostess,” whether at home, family gatherings or church events. She was in her element planning meals, coordinating VBS, decorating, crafting, or working in a kitchen. When she loved you she made efforts to be interested in the things you were interested in whether it be movies, hunting, camping, sports, music, travel, or riding her side-by-side. She loved to travel, especially with her family, having made multiple cross-country road trips to visit family or national parks, visiting Canada with David, Las Vegas with David, Lacey and Ben, and even leaving David behind to go to Hawaii with Corey and Lacey.
Pam’s smiling face, cheerful nature and giving spirit made her easy to love. She was great company for everyone she came to know and was a great listener, supporting and praying for others when they needed a friend. Jesus truly was her guiding light.
Pam is survived by her husband of 47 years, David, son Corey Hughes, daughter Lacey Hougan, son-in-law Ben Hougan, granddaughters Carley and Nora Hougan. Also her sisters and brother: Susan Garrett, Vickie Hughes, Randy Beers, Janet Rabideau, Holly Crump, four nephews, six nieces, and many wonderful aunts, uncles, in-laws, cousins, and great nieces and nephews.
An open house celebration of Pam will take place at Shady Oaks on Highway 99 in Cottage Grove on April 23 at 4 p.m. Arrangements by Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel & Crematorium.
