Pam Kay Richards

To livestream Mrs. Richards memorial service use the following link to the Fort Sumner Church of Christ’s Facebook page

https://facebook.com/events/s/pam-kay-richards-memorial-live/1241338614032187/

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we are announcing that our beautiful, wonderful, amazing mother, grandmother, wife, teacher, and friend, Pamela Kay Richards passed away unexpectedly in her home in Ft. Sumner, NM on February 19th, 2026. Pam was 70 years old.

Pam was born in Tucumcari, NM to parents Gerald and Vandean Isler, who Pam loved and cherished very much. Many of our fondest memories are of Pam recounting the stories of her childhood filled with the adventures she had with her parents and the moments she shared with her two sisters and little brother. Pam loved to talk about the road trips they took and the many trips to Ute Lake to go waterskiing. We all laughed each time she retold the tales of childhood disputes with her siblings. She was a natural storyteller who loved to talk about the connections she had with all of those she loved…and she loved EVERYONE! She attended school in Grady, NM before going on to complete her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in English/Education at Eastern New Mexico University. Shortly after she took a job teaching in Lovington, NM, where she taught and loved her students for 17 years before moving to Ft. Sumner to do the same for 22 years. She was a woman of such passion and, next to her love for her husband, Lecil, and her love for her three boys, teaching was her fire. Pam loved every single student, both those she had in her class, and those that she didn’t, so very much. Every single person mattered to her on the deepest level. Her joy was in celebrating the victories of each student, and in comforting them through the defeats. She was a friend and mentor to all.

Pam met her best friend and the love of her life, Lecil, while attending Eastern New Mexico University and the two love birds were married in 1975. This unstoppable couple shared 45 wonderful years of marriage before Lecil lost his battle with cancer on April 14, 2020. Lecil was sorely missed by all, but mostly by the love of his life, Pam. She held on to the memories and continued to share the beautiful stories of her life with Lecil until the end. They were the most wonderful together.

After marriage Lecil and Pam couldn’t wait to start a family of their own. In 1978 the first of their three boys, Jerrett Lecil, was born followed by Jace Rome in 1982, and Jaben Ross in 1984. They were truly the greatest parents any of us could ever imagine. They loved us together and they loved us wholly. We are overwhelmed with gratitude to have been able to call them “Mom and Dad”. The love, support, and energy they both gave to us is absolutely unbelievable.

Though she loved teaching, and connecting with people, and being a mother, and a friend, Pam’s favorite role was being a grandparent! She treasured every second she spent with Raden, Ruby, Roxy, and Ryker and LOVED being their Bella! She never failed to shower them with love, kisses, hugs, stories, attention, and gifts. She loved them so deeply and so wholly and a conversation couldn’t be had with her without hearing the latest news about her “grandbabies”.

She also greatly loved her role as an aunt. If you were lucky enough to be her niece or nephew, you knew her as “Tia Beautiful,” and you were showered with all the love, encouragement, attention, and enthusiasm you could ever require. She loved you, she thought about you, she prayed for you, and she was ALWAYS proud of you.

Pam will always be remembered for her tremendous energy, her open heart, her genuine willingness to help, her unbelievable capacity for love, understanding, and connection, and for the impact she has made in all of our lives. She will be remembered as the greatest and most beautiful mother, and as the greatest and most beautiful Bella. She was always looking out for all of those she loved and she loved everyone she knew. She was the greatest encourager, the greatest shoulder to cry on, with one of the most positive and loving energies we will ever know. We will always imagine hearing her say, “Almost every day is a very good day, but when it isn’t you just have to fake it till you make it,” or, “I love you”, which she said every single time we spoke and no one said it like she did. We couldn’t have asked for a better mother, grandmother, or friend and we will miss her so, so much every single day. We know that Pam’s memory will live on in the hearts and minds of all those she loved and who loved her and we take great comfort in imagining the grandeur of her reunion with Lecil. We would have loved so much to have witnessed that.

Pam was preceded in death by father, Gerald Isler, brother, Jerry Dean Isler, husband, Lecil Richards, and brother-in-law, Mike West. She is survived by her mother, Vandean Isler, her sisters Stacy West and Jo Beth Horner, brother-in-law, Kern Horner, and her sons, Jerrett and Mel Richards, Jace and Audra Richards, and Jaben and Savannah Richards, grandchildren, Raden, Ruby, Ryker, and Roxy Richards and all of her nieces and nephews whom she loved so very much.

Viewing will be held Monday, February 23, 2026 from 1 pm to 6 pm at Chavez Funeral Home. Memorial Services will be 10 am Saturday, February 28, 2026 at the Fort Sumner Church of Christ.

Please keep the Richards family in your prayers. You may sign the guestbook, or share a favorite memory at www.chavezfuneralhome.com

Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 830 N. Fifth Street, Fort Sumner, New Mexico. (575) 355-2311.