Pamela Jean Peter Carlisle

Pamela Jean Peter Carlisle

"Pam" • "Mom" • "Nana"

1941 – 2025

Pamela Jean Peter Carlisle, age 83, passed away peacefully on April 11, 2025, surrounded by her loving family and the memories of a life richly lived. A radiant soul with an unstoppable spirit, Pam was a devoted wife, mother of five, nana to 10 grandchildren, and the beloved matriarch to a lively tribe of granddogs and cats.

Born on November 8, 1941, Pam was a true force of nature. Known for her catchphrases - "I only have one speed … fast," and "Let's get this show on the road" - she approached life with unstoppable energy, endless curiosity, and a deep love for adventure.

Pam was a lifelong learner and avid reader. She studied laboratory technology in college and brought her brilliant mind to the world of medical science through her work at ARUP Laboratories at the University of Utah. She was deeply proud to inspire all five of her children to pursue a higher education, and each earned university degrees and more.

Pam was literally a mover and a shaker. She relocated more than 25 times. She started in Maryland and then moved to Washington, D.C., where she met her husband, Richard. They then set off to southern California, Utah, and finally settled in Arizona's Sonoran Desert. Her heart always belonged to the desert. A self-proclaimed "Desert Cowgirl," she found beauty in what others called barren. She was especially enchanted by blooming saguaro cacti silhouetted against an Arizona sunset at daughter Cathie's Cave Creek home, often saying they gave her hope - the virtue she held closest of the three, as found in 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV).

She shared her love for the desert with her family and community, volunteering at the Desert Caballeros Western Museum, helping lead charitable efforts with the Wickenburg Elks Lodge, and festooning the grandkids in boots and cowboy hats from Double D Western World. Every home she lived in began with a bird feeder, a warm welcome for hummingbirds and cardinals who became cherished guests.

Pam could fix just about anything - appliances, situations, or even broken hearts. With ingenuity and a little duct tape, she solved everyday problems in unforgettable ways. Whether she was warming a pickup bed for a road trip, inventing plant-watering systems, or mastering the art of flaky pie crust, she did it all with grace, style, and determination.

She loved opera, classical music, drama, and the art of storytelling. Pam sang, played piano, acted, and beat just about anyone at Bridge, Canasta, and sometimes Mahjong. If she wasn't moving, her mind surely was, as she always had a book in hand, and preferred the "heavier" novels that really made one think about the complexities of life.

She turned heads wherever she went. Effortlessly stylish, she had a magnetic presence that made everyone stand a little straighter. But beneath the glamour was a woman deeply grounded: a wife, a mother, a sister, a daughter, a mom, a nana. Her family was her greatest pride, her boldest adventure, and her most enduring joy.

Pam's legacy is one of strength, elegance, humor, and deep devotion to family. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Dr. Richard Carlisle, by her parents, Theodore and Gertrude Peter, her sister Valerie Crane, and by her tabby cat, Kitty Witty. She is survived by children and spouses Cathleen (Tom), Christopher (Jessica), Kenneth (Megan), Kimberly (Bob), and Corinne "Cori" (Stephen); by grandchildren, Ryan, Aaron, Grace, Zach, Audra, Hannah, Kelsey, Connor, Hayden, Cade; by granddog Ophie; and by many relatives and friends who were touched by her light and laughter.

Pam never liked saying goodbye. Instead, she always ended with "Bye for now." So today, with love and gratitude, we say:

Bye for now, Pam. Your speed was fast, your spirit fierce, and your love everlasting.

The family invites friends to celebrate Pam's life and legacy at a Memorial Mass on May 23rd at 10:30 am at the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale, AZ.

The mass will be followed by an Inurnment Service where her ashes will be laid to rest at the Holy Redeemer Catholic Cemetery in Phoenix, AZ.

If you feel obliged to leave a donation in honor of Pam Carlisle, she held two charities close to her heart.

The Elk's National Foundation:

https://www.elks.org/enf/onlinegiving.cfm

Arizona PBS:

https://www.pledgecart.org/home?campaign=BAAEFD8B-A6D5-4954-B2B0-6B19BA1E385B&source=MWZZA