Pamela Drake Roe

Pamela Drake Roe, 87, of Kansas City/Lawrence, Kansas, passed away Friday, November 18, 2016, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. Graveside service will be held at 1:00 P.M., Tuesday, November 22, 2016, at Mt. Hope Cemetery and Funeral Chapel, 4700 SW 17th Street, Topeka. Mrs. Roe will lie in state from 3:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Monday, November 21, 2016, at Dengel & Son Mortuary, Ottawa. Pamela was born Tuesday, December 11, 1928, in Kansas City, Missouri, the daughter of Robert and Fern (Fifield) Drake. She was raised there with her sister, Patricia, and attended St. Angus Academy School. She played basketball while in high school and loved to tell the story of being able to “dribble through the other girls’ legs” because she was quite petite. She met Howard Roe in 1948, an army man from Kansas City, Missouri, and were married in Kansas City the following year. They had two beautiful children, Mike and Teri and they were the light of Pam’s life. Howard and Pam loved people, loved to entertain, and adored spending time at the lake with their loved ones. Pam was incredibly gifted in hospitality, which was instrumental in the success of Howard and Pam’s business, Beto Junction Travel Plaza, which they opened in 1975. The first weekend it opened, there was a massive blizzard and many travelers were stranded at Beto. Pam took them all in and cared for them with her signature gracious hospitality. Beto was given many awards during their ownership, including best diner on the interstate in 1995. It was also featured on The Today Show and Paul Harvey. Pam delighted in her children and grandchildren. Her favorite time of year was Christmas, when everyone was together and she could host her loved ones and fill them with love – in the form of encouraging words, homemade fudge and noodles, and gifts. At the time of her husband Howard’s death, they were married 58 years. Pamela’s family cannot imagine the world without her loving, supportive presence, but her legacy of compassion, empathy, love, and sacrifice will live on in their memories and their lives. They are rejoicing that she is now restored and reunited with loved ones she has missed dearly. She is preceded in death by her husband, Howard Roe; sister, Patricia Johnson; and parents, Robert Drake and Fern (Fifield). She leaves behind her son, Michael Roe; daughter and son-in-law, Teri and Gary Moss; grandchildren, Kyle and Laura Williams, Jordan and Darby Hurst, Gabby Williams, and Reesa Williams. Pam also leaves behind three beautiful great-grandchildren; and a niece, Melanie and Fred Schattauer. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067. Family and friends are encouraged to post their condolences and memories on Pamela’s Tribute Wall at www.dengelmortuary.com