Pam Ayres

Pam Ayres, of Onancock/ Pungoteague Creek, died unexpectedly on March 24, 2024, at the age of 95. We are all devastated by this huge loss and she will be forever missed.

Pam was born with a naturally sweet and kind soul, a heart of gold, a big smile for everyone she met, and was always a joy to be around. Pam lead a life of uncompromising, energetic love of nature. She was a born nurturer; throughout her life she was immediate to care for sick or injured wildlife or domestic creatures that needed aid. She grew up on the northern side of Onancock Creek. With her scow and trusting and faithful Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Lady, she would explore the middle Chesapeake Bay. (Lady would be the first of many lucky dogs.)

Her family relocated to the seaside on Folly Creek where she further added to her nautical adventures. Growing up on the Folly Creek golf course, she was well known as a great golfer and softball player. She was a very skilled equestrian, learning to ride at a very young age. She acquired her first mount--a Chincoteague Pony, that they put in the back of her grandfather's station wagon when she was 7 years old. As a teenager, she was regularly seen racing along the open fields on her beloved steeplechaser horse, Prince. This is how she caught the eye of her future husband, Charles U. Ayres Jr of Accomac, VA. Before they were married, she graduated from Accomack High School and then attended the Maryland Institute of Art in Baltimore. Pam was an avid and skilled sculptress. Charlie and Pam were married in 1949 and had four children together. After 22 years of Charlie's military service they returned to the Eastern Shore where they bought property and built a house on Pungoteague Creek.

Pam was the initial and chief organizer of the construction of the Onancock High School baseball field in 1967. She started the Eastern Shore Art and Craft Guild. Other jobs she had included working as a VPI extension agent, helping low-income families, and later using her fine art skills as a sculptress for Turner Sculpture.

Pam's love for her family was unmatched. There was nothing she wouldn't do for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Every time or activity was deserving of her full exuberant participation. Regardless of her age, she wanted in! She played baseball, softball, touch football, tennis, golf, wrestled, paintballed, swam, and anything else someone came up with. Her love of the bay was evident to anyone who came for a visit. She knew all the great fishing spots and was overjoyed when she could take friends and family out for a day of bay fishing. Pam's garden was impressive. She grew flowers and vegetables with the greenest of thumbs. Something was always in bloom in her yard. Pam was a competitive cook-just ask her grandkids about her famous pancake syrup, puff rice balls, crabcakes, and milkshakes!

Pam is pre-deceased by her husband, Retired Major Charles U Ayres Jr.; her son, Charles Craig Ayres; her sister, Gayle Nyren; and nephews Clifford Nyren, John Boyce, and Stuart Nyren. She is survived by her sister, Sandra; half-brothers, Barry, Greg, and Sanford Schwinn; her loving children, Denise Ayres, Doug Ayres (wife Wanda), and Rebecca Ludden (husband Eric J.); her adoring grandchildren, Eric W. (wife Lyndsey), Travis Ludden (wife Kristen), John Ludden (wife Hannah), Shane Ludden (wife Kelly), Amy Kennedy, and Kelly Poe; great-grandchildren, Carley Poe, Jayla Turner, Caroline Ludden, Memphis Ludden, Leonidas Ludden, Noelle Ludden, Lucille Ludden, Charlotte Ludden, Taylor Ludden, Easton Ludden, and Logan Ludden; nephew, Chuck Nyren; and nieces, Jill Nyren and Teresa Crockett. Pam is also deeply missed by her devoted dog, Sasha.

A Celebration of Life for Pam Ayres will be held at her house, 27111 Mt. Nebo Road, Onancock, on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. Please bring a lawn chair as the celebration will be held outside. Please RSVP by text or phone to Becky Ludden at 540-735-4637 if you plan to attend.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Pam’s name may be made to the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters, P.O. Box 2156, Norfolk, VA 23501-2156 (http://www.chkd.org), or the Eastern Shore S.P.C.A., P.O. Box 164, Onley, VA 23418 (http://www.shorespca.com).

Memory tributes may be shared with the family at www.williamsfuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements by the Williams-Onancock Funeral Home.

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