Fair Queen

Pamela Dawn Dawson

July 31, 1943 to April 13, 2022

Pamela Dawn Dawson born July 31, 1943 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, succumbed to cancer after encountering it six times over the past 25 years. She was in “Ripley’s Believe it or Not” for being the 4th generation on her father’s side to be born July 31st and also the 4th generation on her mother’s side born at dawn with Dawn in her name.

Pam was an original member of the Lakewood Pony Club, which soon became the famous Lakewood Westernaires. She rode as a member of the Big Red team at various rodeos including the National Western Stock Show and Fort Worth Stock Show. Her father worked in radio, so when KOA radio transferred her family to Twin Falls Idaho, she continued her involvement with horses and was runner up to the Queen of the “War Bonnet Round Up Rodeo” in 1958. The family was then transferred to the Seattle, WA area where she finished high school and college with a degree in Speech Language Therapy. Wanting to return to Denver, she applied for positions there but found no openings, and Colorado Springs was the next opportunity. At the time, the School District would help find housing/roommates for new teachers. She rented an apartment on Palmer Park Blvd with her new roommate. Pat Dawson and his two high school friends lived in the same apartments when they decided to spread their wings from their Colorado Springs families. When Pat found out that she could not only water ski and snow ski, but also make him look like he had never been on a horse, the pursuit was on. They were married June 4, 1966, and were blessed with four children (Christy, Michael, Colleen, & Sean). She served as a speech therapist for School District 11 until they bought the Valley View Ranch in Peyton, Colorado. She worked for the Pikes Peak Board of Cooperative Services (BOCS), providing speech therapy for countless students in rural schools in eastern El Paso, Elbert and Lincoln Counties for many years. She returned to District 11 and finished her career at Fremont Elementary School.

In Pat’s National Ski Patrol days, she was an auxiliary ski patrol member at Breckenridge, but horses soon took over the family’s life. As the children started riding and showing horses in the 4-H program she became a 4-H leader for their club. Pam became involved in the El Paso Fair Queen program and served as the coordinator for over 20 years until present. Serving as the El Paso County Queen Coordinator was a big part of her life after she retired from the school district. She was very passionate about the El Paso County Queen program, supporting young women and helping them grow as horsewomen and public speakers representing the El Paso County Fair. Many of her Queens went on to become Girls of the West, Miss Rodeo Colorado and competed for Miss Rodeo America. For many years when Christy and Colleen were Pikes Peak Rangerettes, she served as an Assistant Drill Master. Starting in 2005 she began serving as the Chairman of the Tough Enough To Wear Pink Committee for the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo. Serving on the Tough Enough to Wear Pink Committee for the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo was a cause near and dear to her heart and she could always be spotted wearing lots of pink.

Pam never missed a school or athletic event when the kids participated, as well a rodeo or horse event as a participant or supporting her family when they were involved. She also enjoyed team sorting with Pat and her family. Pam enjoyed going to Broadway musicals with her family and friends, she attended close to 100 shows over the years. Her favorite musicals were Phantom of the Opera and Wicked.

She is survived by her husband Pat, her children Christy (Glaser), Michael, Colleen, Sean (Jenni); grandchildren Conor & Rory (Dawson), Micah (Glaser), Kayla & Kendall (Dawson), brother Buck (Mary) Ferguson, sisters-in-law Mary Pat Mulnix and Cathy Maes; nieces and nephews Brain (Cyndi) Mulnix, Barry (Christy) Mulnix, Kevin (Sarah) Ferguson, Kathleen (Sloan) DuRoss, Kelly (Seth) Levy, as well as eight grand nieces and nephews.

Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 am April 27, 2022 at St Michael Catholic Church, 574 8th Street, Calhan Colorado 80808, with a reception to follow at the El Paso County Fairgrounds – Swink Hall. Causes that were dear to Pam’s heart are El Paso County Fair Queen Program and Gunnison TETWP. If sending flowers please direct deliveries to Swan Law Funeral Directors at 501 N. Cascade Ave, Colorado Springs CO, 80903 by 4/26/2022 for use at the service.