Part 1: CUTV News Radio Highlights Pamela Jo Roller

LOGANSPORT, IN — Pamela Jo Roller has accomplished many things. This includes writing a book about the life of her mother, Clara Evelyn Sizemore’s, to honor her and be an inspiration for other women.

Pamela’s mother, who goes by Evelyn, was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in February of 2008. Pamela stood by her mom as she faced the physical and emotional ordeals of cancer treatment and began writing while mom was getting her hours of Chemo. It was not only a way to pay tribute to a mother whose time might be running out, it was therapeutic for Pamela; writing gave her focus and kept her calm during the endless hours of waiting.

Evelyn’s story, entitled My Mother’s Graceful Inspiration is no best seller, but it accomplished Pamela’s goal of paying tribute to a mother who faced adversity - and still held her head high.

Pamela recently retired after more than 40 years in teaching. She loved finding a way to engage her students, especially when it came to science. Pamela was a Disney Honoree for American Teacher Awards in 2002-03. In 2005, she was asked to contribute to the series of Best Practices educational books by Randy Stone. Pamela’s articles appeared in Best Classroom Practices for Reaching all Learners, as well as the Reading, Math, Writing and Science volumes in that series.

Pamela is sweet and humble about such honors, including when she received the Pharos Tribune Good Neighbor Award. She knows she did volunteer work for the Red Cross, delivering flowers and wheeling out released patients, and that community members also admired a mentoring program she had launched, matching at-risk-children with adult role models. 

Pamela mentions God as a major influence in her life and the source of strength that helped her just keep putting one foot in front of the other during her most difficult days.