Pamela Irene Christensen's Obituary
Pamela Irene Christensen, 70, passed away the morning of March 10, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah, surrounded by loved ones. A celebration of life will be April 25th, 2025 at Deer Valley Snow Park from 3-6pm.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Pam’s honor to support Wyoming High School divers and swimmers to attend developmental diving/swimming camps. Information on how to donate can be found at Fund for Public Education. In the “Designation” box please specify to donate to the “Pam and Casey Swimming and Diving Summer Camp Scholarship”.
Pam was born in Laramie, Wyoming to Emil T. and Patricia I. Christensen on January 6, 1955. Pam was an avid swimmer throughout her youth and continued through the collegiate level. Pam graduated from Laramie High School in 1973 with many swimming accolades including a national record in the 100-yard butterfly event. She had several athletic scholarship opportunities but opted to stay close to home and continued her education and swimming career at the University of Wyoming. In 1974 she received All-American women’s collegiate status in the freestyle. In 1998, Pam completed her Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Psychology from the University of Wyoming.
In 1979, Pam married Casey Boyle. Together, they lived a happy life in Laramie, Rawlins, and Evanston where they both coached all levels of swimming & diving. Pam and Casey had a daughter, Shea Boyle, in August of 1981.
Both in Rawlins and Evanston Pam and Casey started age group swimming programs. In Evanston they began the Red Devil Aquatic Team (RDAT) and coached both high and middle school girls and boys swimming as well as the age group team. In the summer months they would even host kids from across the state to help them pursue their swimming goals. Pam had many successes over her coaching career including progressing several student-athletes to collegiate careers as well as to the Olympic Trials. Pam was always invested in the success of her athletes inside and outside of the pool.
Although Casey and Pam divorced in 2007, they remained friends and still spent time enjoying many different outdoor activities with Shea.
In the summer of 2009 Pam married Chip Herron. Together they lived in Salt Lake City while Pam continued coaching in Wyoming and working in Park City. Pam and Chip enjoyed skiing together in Utah and travelled throughout the country together, including traveling to Pennsylvania to visit Chip’s family.
Pam loved skiing and mountain biking, and she eventually found a way to combine this with her everyday life when she started working at Park City Mountain Resort and then Deer Valley Resort. While in Park City, Pam met close friend Marilyn McGill and became close with Marilyn and the rest of the McGill family; Larry, Mark, Agata, Marysia and Jacob.
One month before Pam’s 60th birthday she suffered a significant stroke. Through the struggles of recovery, Pam never gave up on regaining her mobility, strength and independence. She was tenacious in her work with physical, occupational, and speech therapy. She particularly enjoyed going out to participate with the National Ability Center skiing, biking and swimming; much to the credit of her friend Marilyn and the McGill family.
And, no matter what was going on, she never missed an opportunity to get out for a fun outing.
Pam is preceded in death by her parents, Emil and Patricia Christensen, and brother-in-law, Vern Child. Pam is survived by her husband, Chip Herron, daughter and son-in-law, Shea Boyle and Scott Miller, sister-in-laws Cheryl White (Bruce) and Patricia Boyle as well as her sister Annette Child and her nephew and nieces; Paul Child (Jackie), Heather Benson (Todd), Holli Hayes (Mike), Heidi Mitchell (Randy), and Herutia Fannin (Pat).
Donations to the public education:
https://www.fundforpubliceducation.org/checkout/donate?donatePageId=62fbc77e450f5e588d527fce
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