Pamela Sallee

Pamela Gae (Smith) Sallee, age 69, her loving husband’s forever girl, was a devoted and nurturing mother of two, a lifetime care provider to an awesome son, and the calm of those who came to know her. After battling an illness for seven months, Pam made her intentions known to those who love her and on April 22, 2026, she peacefully was released from her earthly restraints to reunite with her cherished son and to receive heaven’s eternal embrace.

Pam, who was affectionally known to her “girls” (granddaughters) as Grammy Pammy, was born July 15, 1956, in Wichita, Kansas, to Pauline and Roland Smith. She grew up in the community of Park City, Kansas, in a close-knit family founded on the love of Jesus. It was in her early years that she learned from her mother how to make the most exceptional chocolate fudge icing that became its only food group in the Sallee household. Her siblings loved her for her timeliness as Pam was known for setting multiple alarm clocks and still never be on time. In her adult years, her siblings loved to reference “Pam time” at most family events because the Sallee family was invariably late, often not by a little but a lot. Her sisters and brother would call out “Pam Time” and Pam would simply smile and give her trademark “Eye Roll”, an eye roll which she had down pat.

Pam attended school in North Wichita, graduating from Wichita Heights High School in 1974. After High School, Pam went on to attend Friend’s University and graduated in 1978. On completion of her bachelor’s degree, Pam started her professional career as a Department Secretary for Employee Relations with Koch Industries in Wichita, Kansas. Thereafter, she worked varied clerical, accounting, and human resources positions for a variety of insurance, packaged food, steel, beef, and oil production companies in South Dakota and Kansas. Prior to retiring in January 2023, Pam spent 21 years with Jim Clark Chevrolet in various positions, her last as a payroll specialist.

Pam and Doug first met, so they think, at a progressive dinner on November 26, 1977. To this day, those familiar with the story laugh as everyone, except for Doug, swears the two met two months earlier. In the end, it did not matter as Doug knew he met the love of his life, his forever girl. On Memorial Weekend, May 25, 1979, the two were married in the Park City, Kansas, First Baptist Church. Pam and Doug always questioned their choice of wedding dates as it later coincided with the greater Sallee family annual Memorial Weekend reunion. Every year since, Pam and Doug would question the logic of picking that date. In the end, as a Service-connected family, they were honored to share their lifelong vows with those that sacrifice so much. Once married, their journey together began. Whether Doug was a full-time student, an officer in the Air Force, a teacher/coach/administrator in public education, or an officer in the Army Reserves, Pam was right there on their life’s journey. Without hesitation, she was known to open her home up to students, lend a hand where a hand was needed, and support deployed and nondeployed service members through Family Readiness Groups. Pam was also an awesome mother to her daughter and son, ensuring each experience all life had to offer regardless of any limitation they might have. In addition to spending time with her children, she went to great lengths to shower love on her three “girls” (granddaughters) through sleepovers, holiday events, and family vacations.

Pam leaves many fond memories behind in her passing. She will be cherished by her husband of 46 years, Doug Sallee, Milford, KS; her daughter Tiffany (Gabriel) Dollins, Lees Summitt, MO; her girls (granddaughters) Kennedi, Zoey, and Paige; her four siblings, Cindi Ubben, Wichita, KS; Annette (James) Weakley, Wichita, KS; Paul (Penny) Smith, Iowa City, IA; Penny (Dick) Simmons, Paola, KS; her mother-in-law, Barbara Sallee, Wichita, KS; and brother-in-law, David Carpenter, Wichita, KS; as well as a host of nieces and nephews who dearly loved Pam for her kindness, care, and love of life. Pam was preceded in death by her son Benjamin Sallee and her parents Roland and Pauline Smith.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, May 1, 2026, at the First Baptist Church in Clay Center, Kansas. Visitation will occur prior to services at 10:00 A.M. Interment will follow the services in the Greenwood Cemetery in Clay Center, Kansas. A memorial fund is established with the Geary Community Schools Foundation (Post Secondary Accessibility Resources Grant) for JCHS special needs graduates who need financial assistance to acquire assistive devices or aids to achieve their Post Secondary Education goals. Gifts may be left by calling 785.717.4063.