Pamela “Pam” Renee Surman was born on Oct. 23, 1959, in Dayton, Texas. After a lengthy and courageous faith-filled battle with lymphoma, the good Lord called her home on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026.
Pam lived her life with a vibrant spirit, a servant’s heart, and a determination that inspired everyone who knew her. She always had a smile on her face. Pam believed in hard work and continually challenged herself to grow. She earned her bachelor’s degree in December 1997 while working full-time. Pam worked for OxyChemical in Dallas for 10 years and then transferred to Houston where she worked for TotalEnergies for 20 years. Her numerous roles included Account Coordinator Supervisor, Demand Planner, Inventory Planner and Sourcing and Strategy Operations Advisor.
Pam retired from the petroleum and plastics industries in December 2019 and made a big change, trading the hustle and bustle of Houston for the small town of Schulenburg. She was so happy to be away from the Houston traffic.
Pam married the love of her life, Patrick Surman, in December 2016. They met five years earlier through a blind date. They were going to the same chiropractor office in Katy, and the office manager had a strong hunch that they would be a good match for each other. She told Pam that she would like Pam to meet this man who comes in, always dresses nice and smells good. She told Patrick that she would like him to meet this lovely lady with a beautiful smile. After multiple attempts of trying to get their appointment times close to each other, work demands of either of their jobs required cancellation for one reason or another. Finally, the office manager asked Pam if she could give her (Pam’s) number to Patrick. Pam agreed, and the rest is history. Their first meeting was at a restaurant and Pam, already inside, watched as Pat walked from his truck to inside the restaurant. She thought to herself “could this be him?” She was excited to learn that he was a cowboy.
Together, Patrick and Pam built a home and happy life in the country outside of Schulenburg. Pam was happy to become a “country girl”; Patrick proudly watched Pam’s excitement the first time she witnessed a calf being born. She loved the cows on their property and was thrilled when a baby calf was born. She named each of the mommas and the babies. She was equally in love with her two cats, Domino and Coaly.
But retirement was not going to slow Pam down. She started an exciting new chapter as a real estate agent with Bubela Real Estate. With her work ethic, keen business sense and genuine love for people, she successfully helped many people making big changes in their life moving to or from the Schulenburg area.
Pam loved life and knew how to enjoy it. She treasured her grandchildren and adored her nieces and nephews. She loved shopping, getting her nails done, and especially enjoyed trips to Fredericksburg and Gruene where browsing the shops was always part of the fun. She cherished spending time with her friends, and making memories with the people she loved.
Pam was a woman of faith, joining the Catholic Church in 2012. It is her faith that carried her through the journey with lymphoma when her real estate career came to an abrupt halt in December 2024 as symptoms started appearing. Rather than give in to fear, Pam was comforted by words of hope and encouragement from the daily devotions in “Jesus Calling” by Sara Young and the beautiful audio rosary by Fr. Kevin Scallon and Dana.
Throughout all that Pam has been through, she was a grateful patient continually thanking those who treated her or took care of her with activities of daily living. She never complained, never showed any sign of frustration, resentment or anger. She was a good and faithful servant to God’s will for her.
Pam is survived by her dedicated husband, Patrick Surman; mother, Loretta Votaw; loving step-children, Shane (Jaime) Surman, Jessica (Shane) Wolff, Jared (Laura) Surman and Levi (Tiffany) Surman; grandchildren, Jeffery, Sayla (Smith), Luke and Trey Surman; Samantha, Tristan and Wyatt Wolff; Lacee, Nolan and Rylan Surman; and Laynee Surman; greatgrandchildren, Revel and Patmos Smith; brothers, Patrick McLemore and Michael (Shannon) McLemore and son Ryan; as well as numerous nieces, other nephews and extended family.
She was preceded in death by her step-father, Clyde Votaw. Funeral services were on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Schulenburg. Interment followed in Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Cemetery in Hostyn.