Pamela Kay (Wisdom) Coulter

Pamela Kay (Wisdom) Coulter was born in Wray, CO on December 2, 1949, 4 short weeks after the Wray Methodist Church burned to the ground.  Pam attended school in Wray, graduating with the Class of 1967.  Public school years brought real life awareness to Pam early as she was one of twelve first grade casket bearers for a classmate lost way too early.  Pam attended college at Colorado State College in Greeley, CO which changed names to The University of Northern Colorado in 1970, majoring in Anthropology.

Pam grew up in a household with 3 brothers and her parents, all sharing one bathroom in the house.  Pam was relatively a quiet, modest and conservative child.  School years brought her participation in activities and organizations including the Healthy Helpers 4-H Club, Rainbow Girls, Wray High School Pep Club, Drama Club and the Methodist Youth Fellowship Group.  Pam volunteered several years for UNICEF, an organization that provides food and life saving supplies to many children in need around the world.  The UNICEF drive always was scheduled for Halloween evening which brought Pam to many homes ringing their doorbell each Halloween, but not asking for treats.  Her response to home owners and renters each Halloween was “Trick or Treat for UNICEF”.  She would return home fairly early, mostly because her father had one hard driven rule for the Wisdom kids, “You will not be out roaming the streets on Halloween.  I don’t need someone contacting me the next day accusing my child of tearing things up around town”.  The older Pam and her brothers got, the more they understood that Dad as a volunteer fireman, helped police patrol the town, trying to minimize ornery activities students used to do around town each Halloween.  The Wisdom kids figured out that the volunteer fireman were having as much fun as the kids were!

Although relatively quiet growing up, Pam enjoyed participating in both high school plays including Drama Club productions.  Her love of involving herself in Thespian activities continued beyond school years as she was either a cast member or crew member of many Cliff Dweller Acting & Singing Society Productions.

Pam fostered a lifelong relationship with her church, beginning at a very young age.  She loved all the celebrations, rituals, and the traditions of people who attended and worshiped together.  For Pam it was always the people that she loved.

Pam returned to Wray in 1973 and welcomed daughters, Jesse Lee Cushen in 1973 and Gabriele Dale Cushen born in 1975.

An early interest for Pam upon her return to Wray was the historic archaeological dig at the Jones Miller Bison Kill Site, spending a few weeks on site helping with the excavation located southeast of Laird, CO.

Pam enjoyed raising her 2 daughters in Wray and experienced many ups and downs life presented her, just like most of us have endured.  She held different jobs throughout her life, but mostly working part time or fulltime helping at Wray Lumber Company, the family business.

Pam’s service to her church continued throughout her entire life, helping in many areas.  She taught Sunday school and was youth group leader at the United Methodist Church for many years.  Pam became a lay minister, always willing to volunteer during church services when the minister was going to miss a Sunday service.  The love of these experiences as a lay minister turned Pam to actively serving several small church communities ministering to each congregation.   She was still continuing her education in the ministry field with online classes.   Pam was asked to minister to the congregation of the Kirk Methodist Church these last few years and moved to that area 2 years ago.  Pam deeply loved serving the people in the Kirk and Joes area.  She was actively ministering at the Kirk Methodist Church, literally up until an untimely stroke consumed her just days before her death.

One activity many people have shared with the family the past few days was Pam’s presentations as a Plains Indian Woman.  Pam would dress in actual Native American clothing, wearing the heavy makeup to replicate the appearance of the Indians.  Her performances for organizations and community events continued for over 20 years.  She most enjoyed the many performances at several area schools, sharing with the young children Native American History, sharing in dance, home keeping and the general culture and what life was like as a Native American Woman.  Pam always knew her job was well done when one of the students would often ask Pam if she was a real Indian.  Recent years Pam became a member of the VFW, serving some of those years as the President of the organization.

Pam was preceded in death by her grandparents Andy & Lulu Ming, Lawrence & Opal Wisdom, and step grandfather Spencer Newbanks.  Also preceding Pam were her parents Dale & Eunice Wisdom, husband Jim Coulter, Brother Dan Wisdom, and stepson Quinn Maupin.

Left to celebrate her life while mourning her death includes her 2 daughters, Jesse Cushen of Wray, and Gabriele Cushen of Wray.  Grandchildren include Ray Vaughn Aragon (Greeley), Adam Jakob Dickson (Greeley), Aydan Tufton (Loveland), Kedric Tufton (Kearney, NE), Ash McKinney (Wray), and Quinn McKinney (Wray).  Brothers Michael (Roni) Wisdom (Alamosa), Tim (Jody) Wisdom (Wray), Uncle Russ Ming (Highlands Ranch, CO) and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors.

People Pam would thank personally today if she were here would include Polly Thiringer, high school English teacher as well as Speech and Drama.  Betty Finn who gave her a love for music.  Betty Boone, Lettie Zion and Reverend Willis Wisehart and many of her school classmates.

Cremation was requested with a Memorial Services being held on Friday, May 19, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at the Wray United Methodist Church in Wray, Colorado with Jim Hoganson officiating.

Memorials may be made to the Pamela Coulter Memorial Fund, c/o Wray State Bank, P.O. Box 277, Wray, Colorado 80758.   Arrangements handled by Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home.