Pamela Davis , age 68, of Grand Forks, ND, passed away at home and under hospice care on Monday, July 13, 2026, following a more than five-year battle with multiple major cancers. She persevered through treatment with great inner strength and grace and was blessed with sympathetic care from her doctors and nurses. During her last several weeks Pamela had a steady stream of visits from friends and extended family that brightened her last days. These visits, along with support from her husband, Graeme, and a steady, soft presence of their lab-mix, Freya, gave her greatly needed comfort.

Pamela was born on February 12, 1958, in Willmar, MN, to Margaret (Lynner) and Robert Gordon. She attended public schools in Willmar and went on to earn a B.S. degree in Textiles and Clothing from the University of Minnesota in 1980.

Pamela's early years were filled with activities including partner dancing, adventures traveling across the US with her sisters, and sewing clothes for her tall and slender frame. After a major snowstorm hit Minneapolis, she decided to move south and eventually ended up in Houston, TX, where she met (David) Luke Davis. They married on December 12, 1987, in Minneapolis and resided in Dallas, TX. They had two children, Kayli (1990) and Niall (1993), before moving to Grand Forks in 1996. They divorced in 1997.

As Grand Forks began to flood in April 1997, she fled with her children to the shelter set up at Red River High School. While watching live coverage of the flood on the shelter's lone TV she met Graeme Dewar. Both had homes on the same street, and they shared their fears and uncertainty about what was to come as they saw video of their homes being flooded. After reconnecting during the post-flood recovery and falling in love, they married in 2002.

Pamela worked a variety of fascinating jobs throughout her life. She loved sharing stories from her time as a 4H camp counselor, in the costume department of St. Olaf's Opera Department, selling luxury fabric to, and making dresses for, the "new rich" in Texas during the oil boom, fitting female police officers with bullet proof vests, working as a paralegal, and interviewing members of the community as a field representative for the U.S. Department of Commerce.

By far her favorite job was working as an Artist in the Classroom in the Grand Forks Public Schools. She was enthusiastic about having children express themselves artistically and enjoyed bringing Eskimo carvings and African art from her personal collection to school for students to see and touch. She delighted in being greeted by former students from the many elementary schools in town.

Pamela belonged to the North Star Quilters Guild (Grand Forks) and to Designing Quilters (Fargo – Moorhead). She filled her home to the brim with quilting, knitting, and art supplies and dedicated countless hours to creating unique art quilts, pushing the boundaries of typical traditions. With her discerning eye she loved collecting interesting pieces from her travels and liked to decorate her surroundings with the colors and textures she had a special affection for. Pamela loved music. She sang in her churches' choirs, attended many concerts, and was fond of listening to Americana, Folk, and Texas Swing. She encouraged and supported her children's musical talents, shuttling them to music stores, lessons, auditions, rehearsals, and performances.

Helping people was a core part of her personality. She was involved in outreach at St. Paul's Episcopal Church and supported the Global Friends Coalition. Pamela traveled to Tanzania for a mission trip and lit up when sharing her experiences from the trip. Innumerable hours were spent on family road trips to Texas for the Kerrville Folk Festival and to see family in Minnesota, Mississippi, Washington DC, and Canada. San Diego was a favorite destination to which she returned often.

Pamela leaves behind her husband, Graeme Dewar; as well as children and stepchildren, Kayli Davis (Washington, DC), Niall Davis (Grand Forks), Colleen (Robert) Peno (Biloxi, MS), and Alexander Dewar (Grand Forks). Other survivors include her sisters, Rishe Morse (Northfield, MN), Sage Passi (Minneapolis), and Debbie Gordon (Silver Spring, MD), her sister-in-law, Marlene Dewar (Vankleek Hill, ON); nieces, Crystal Passi and Alexandra Morse; nephews, Aaron and Jacob Morse; and grandchildren, Ada and Teddie Dewar, and Caleb, Natalie, and Bryce Peno.

FUNERAL SERVICE will be held at 11:00 am Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 319 S. 5th St, Grand Forks, ND and live streamed with link on the church's Facebook page. VISITATION will be held Tuesday, July 21, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Dahl Funeral Home, 2029 Central Ave. NW, East Grand Forks, MN and will continue one hour before the service at the church.