Pam McKeever

From IAGSDC History
Jump to navigationJump to search
At Promenade Along the Rockies, 1985. Photo courtesy of Bill Eyler

Pamela Lynn McKeever
15 Jan 1949 - 22 Feb 1991

Media Features

Obituary

MCKEEVER—Pamela Lynn McKeever, 42, died on February 22, 1991 in Brooklyn, New York. She is survived by her parents, Charles and Shirley McKeever of Albuquerque; her brother Bruce McKeever of Littleton, CO; her two sisters, Mary Ruth French and husband, Lyle of Washington, DC and Patricia Ann Boysen and husband, Richard of Dallas, TX; a niece, Genevieve McKeever of Scottsdale, AZ; her Grandmother, Agnes Sterling of Hugo, CO; as well as uncles, aunts, cousins and a host of loving friends all over the country. A memorial service will be held at 11ː00 a.m. on April 6, at the Asbury United Methodist Church, 10000 Candelaria NE. In lieu of flowers please give to Mental Health Research.[2]


Pamela Lynn McKeever (15 Jan 1949 - 22 Feb 1991)
by Bill Litchman
A beautiful, energetic, talented, and entertaining woman, Pam McKeever held degrees in speech communications and became a speech therapist. For as many people as she may have helped in that area, she is best known to us for her talents and personality in the field of dancing.

About 20 years ago, the Foundation created a film called "The Visible Anthem." Pam was in attendance at Fellowship that year, singing, playing, calling, and dancing with jubilation. The people of the Fellowship took to her and brought her into their hearts. They loved her and they enjoyed her humor and personality. She sang "Dem Bones 'Gonna Rise Again," and other songs, but the "Bones" song was the one everyone asked her to repeat until she tired of doing it.

Pam's calling was crisp and precise; she knew the principles of good leadership and practiced them. Her dancing was graceful and smooth, a perfect example of style. Pam played the trumpet, fiddle, guitar, banjo, and piano, with other musicians in Albuquerque, she promoted the formation of dance activities to provide an outlet for the playing of dance music. These dances have grown, and the musicians have become better, strengthened by her prompting and continual support.

About 1986, Pam left Albuquerque to attempt to make her living just doing dances. She settled in Brooklyn, NY, and participated in the Country Dance and Song Society of America, Pinewoods, and other dance camps and activities. Again, she called, danced, sang, and generally captivated those around her with her vibrant personality.

While not yet on her own as a dance leader, she continued to support herself primarily with her work with speech-handicapped children. She was very good with them, using her singing and playing as well as her dance leadership experience to help them become whole people.

As was said of her at a recent memorial service in Albuquerque, she was a "salt of the earth" person. She was very gifted and talented, often developing her skills to perfection. She also had the ability to appear very cheerful when she was not as happy as she could have been. None of us are happy all of the time; Pam was no exception.

During a time of difficulty, she took her own life. While it might seem more politic not to mention the manner of her death, Pam's story would not be complete without the ending. It doesn't change the love felt for her or diminish the accomplishments she made and the lives she affected. In the minds of those who knew her, she will remain her bright, cheerful, and bouyant self forever. [3]

Remembrances

In Memoriam
Pam McKeever put the Wilde Bunch on the map in 1985 with her fabulous flying square performances. She passed away suddenly at her home in Brooklyn, in early March. Her inspiration will be missed, but what she taught us will live on.[4]


Bill Eyler can confirm this, but I believe the Wilde Bunch hired her for a flying squares workshop in the 1984/85 timeframe. (I would like to know from him how they connected with her in the first place.) Rainbeaus were impressed with her so decided to sponsor her for a workshop at the Denver convention in 1985. That was Rainbeaus’ contribution to the convention which was otherwise sponsored by C.G.R.A.
Karl Jaeckel [5]


I'm so glad she has memorials like this. She made a big impact on my calling career.
Bill Eyler [6]

Memorial Panel

  • 2UR | Flying Squares Instructor, Southwest States

Photos

Videos

Cheyenne Mountains Dancers demo, American Dance Week at CDSS Pinewoods Camp, 1990


Sources

  1. FOLKwords (Albuquerque, NM) Winter 1993
  2. Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, NM) Sunday, 10 Mar 1991, p.G10, col.5
  3. The American Dance Circle a quarterly publication of the Lloyd Shaw Foundation (Kansas City, MO) Jun 1991, p.26-27
  4. Wilde Times newsletter (Mar/Apr 1991)
  5. Email, 18 Mar 2021
  6. Email, 26 Mar 2021