Obituary for Katie Erin Palmer (Tipton)
Katie Erin (Tipton) Palmer was born on May 3, 1981 and passed from this life on Earth Day, April 22, 2020, a fitting legacy as Katie was known for her love of nature, conservation and nature rehabilitation culminating with a BA in Biology from Austin College in 2003.
Katie was Teacher of the Year three different times at Henry Scott Middle School specializing in Robotics, STEM and Biology. She was the recipient of the prestigious Ross Perot Fellowship, Rookie of the Year Teacher, Scott’s Scholar Sponsor and Difference Maker Award. She volunteered at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge and Denison Parks and Recreation, was a member of the Denison Service League and participated in an internship for the Rainforest Projects in Costa Rica and Hawaii through Austin College. She was a Math/ Science scholarship winner while in middle school. She was a Children’s Church instructor and champion of providing clothing, school supplies and food to the needy. She was baptized as a teenager in Caney, Oklahoma. She created her own program for her students, “Care Comforters” that allowed her students to stitch together comforters that were then delivered to area hospitals and nursing homes. She had guinea pigs in her classroom “Winnie Pig” and “Honey Bear” that were used to soothe hurting students.
Katie was preceded in death by her grandmother Dora Mae Carpenter of Durant, Oklahoma; grandfather Donald Tipton and grandmother Gennie Tipton of Coleman, Oklahoma; father-in-law Stephen Dale Palmer of Dallas, Texas and aunt Sherry Diane Simpson of Denison, Texas.
Katie leaves behind her husband John David Palmer, daughter Bella Rose Palmer and son Brandon Dale Palmer of Denison, Texas. Other survivors include her mother Rhonda Dean Nail and husband John David Nail of Denison, Texas; father Tony Glen Tipton and wife Debi Tipton of Caney, Oklahoma; brother David Logan Nail and wife Shannon Nail; nephew Liam Dean Nail and niece Mila Janine Nail of Denison, Texas; brother Kolton Tipton; niece Avery Tipton and nephew Case Tipton all of Atoka, Oklahoma; sister Kamron Tipton Boggs and husband Aaron Boggs and niece Eleanor Boggs of McAlester, Oklahoma; grandfather Leon Dean of Coleman, Oklahoma; aunts Nancy Vincent and husband Ben Vincent of Denison, Texas, Tammy Lynne Gibson of Denison, Texas, Terri Tipton of Durant, Oklahoma and mother-in-law Martha Lee Palmer of Denison, Texas; cousins Brian, Gwen, Jack and Billy Estep of Cartwright, Oklahoma, Bradley, Iris, Avi and Austin Estep of Cedar Park, Texas, Kalli, Roy, Ryan, Jacob, Blain and Cruz Nuncio of Denison, Texas, Sara, Tanner and Hunter Donihoo of Melissa, Texas, Ashley, Michael, Ryder and Sophie Logan of Gunter, Texas, Jordan, Ashley and Ian Gibson of Denison, Texas, Connor Gibson of Sherman, Texas and Tristan Gibson of Denison, Texas, Michael, Kara, Maggie and Ben McBrayer of Colbert, Oklahoma, Nicki, Terry, Zeke, Easton and Dayton Russell of Coleman, Oklahoma, Neal McBrayer of Durant, Oklahoma and a host of family, friends and loved ones.
Katie’s spirit will be carried on through the lives of her children and generations to come, the students she taught, her passion for nature and her love of travel.
A Celebration of Her Life will be held at a later date tentatively at Austin College, her and John’s Alma Mater and where they fell in love.
In lieu of flowers, please make dedication memorials and donations to: Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, 6545 Refuge Rd., Sherman, Texas 75092, 903-465-6041 or Grayson County Shelter, 331 W. Morton Street, Denison, Texas 75020, Ph 903-465-6041.
Condolences may be made online at Gordon Funeral Home in Durant, Oklahoma under the direction of Brent Gordon, 221 N. 3rd, Durant, PH- 580-916-9090, www.gordonfh.com.
Katie was Teacher of the Year three different times at Henry Scott Middle School specializing in Robotics, STEM and Biology. She was the recipient of the prestigious Ross Perot Fellowship, Rookie of the Year Teacher, Scott’s Scholar Sponsor and Difference Maker Award. She volunteered at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge and Denison Parks and Recreation, was a member of the Denison Service League and participated in an internship for the Rainforest Projects in Costa Rica and Hawaii through Austin College. She was a Math/ Science scholarship winner while in middle school. She was a Children’s Church instructor and champion of providing clothing, school supplies and food to the needy. She was baptized as a teenager in Caney, Oklahoma. She created her own program for her students, “Care Comforters” that allowed her students to stitch together comforters that were then delivered to area hospitals and nursing homes. She had guinea pigs in her classroom “Winnie Pig” and “Honey Bear” that were used to soothe hurting students.
Katie was preceded in death by her grandmother Dora Mae Carpenter of Durant, Oklahoma; grandfather Donald Tipton and grandmother Gennie Tipton of Coleman, Oklahoma; father-in-law Stephen Dale Palmer of Dallas, Texas and aunt Sherry Diane Simpson of Denison, Texas.
Katie leaves behind her husband John David Palmer, daughter Bella Rose Palmer and son Brandon Dale Palmer of Denison, Texas. Other survivors include her mother Rhonda Dean Nail and husband John David Nail of Denison, Texas; father Tony Glen Tipton and wife Debi Tipton of Caney, Oklahoma; brother David Logan Nail and wife Shannon Nail; nephew Liam Dean Nail and niece Mila Janine Nail of Denison, Texas; brother Kolton Tipton; niece Avery Tipton and nephew Case Tipton all of Atoka, Oklahoma; sister Kamron Tipton Boggs and husband Aaron Boggs and niece Eleanor Boggs of McAlester, Oklahoma; grandfather Leon Dean of Coleman, Oklahoma; aunts Nancy Vincent and husband Ben Vincent of Denison, Texas, Tammy Lynne Gibson of Denison, Texas, Terri Tipton of Durant, Oklahoma and mother-in-law Martha Lee Palmer of Denison, Texas; cousins Brian, Gwen, Jack and Billy Estep of Cartwright, Oklahoma, Bradley, Iris, Avi and Austin Estep of Cedar Park, Texas, Kalli, Roy, Ryan, Jacob, Blain and Cruz Nuncio of Denison, Texas, Sara, Tanner and Hunter Donihoo of Melissa, Texas, Ashley, Michael, Ryder and Sophie Logan of Gunter, Texas, Jordan, Ashley and Ian Gibson of Denison, Texas, Connor Gibson of Sherman, Texas and Tristan Gibson of Denison, Texas, Michael, Kara, Maggie and Ben McBrayer of Colbert, Oklahoma, Nicki, Terry, Zeke, Easton and Dayton Russell of Coleman, Oklahoma, Neal McBrayer of Durant, Oklahoma and a host of family, friends and loved ones.
Katie’s spirit will be carried on through the lives of her children and generations to come, the students she taught, her passion for nature and her love of travel.
A Celebration of Her Life will be held at a later date tentatively at Austin College, her and John’s Alma Mater and where they fell in love.
In lieu of flowers, please make dedication memorials and donations to: Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, 6545 Refuge Rd., Sherman, Texas 75092, 903-465-6041 or Grayson County Shelter, 331 W. Morton Street, Denison, Texas 75020, Ph 903-465-6041.
Condolences may be made online at Gordon Funeral Home in Durant, Oklahoma under the direction of Brent Gordon, 221 N. 3rd, Durant, PH- 580-916-9090, www.gordonfh.com.