Delva “Dee” Palmer, 68, of Oxford, Kansas, went to her heavenly home, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. She was able to spend her last hours peacefully at her home in Oxford with her entire immediate family by her side.
Cremation has taken place. No services are scheduled at this time. The family will have a memorial shindig to celebrate Dee’s life at a later date.
Dee was born three months premature on October 8, 1951, the daughter of Lawrence Shobe, Sr. and Betty Irvine in Wellington, KS. She fit into the palm of a hand at birth. She was not expected to survive, so she was taken home and cared for by her grandmother, Mildred Irvine. Mildred kept Dee warm in a shoe box in an oven in the early days after birth.
Dee graduated from Wellington High School in 1969. Her dream was to become a nurse and she worked as a Candy Striper after high school. On January 18, 1970, Dee married Airman 1st Class Norris Palmer, Sr. Shortly after marriage, Norris and Dee moved to Niceville, Florida, while Norris was stationed at Eglin Airforce Base. Dee enjoyed spending time on the beach while in Florida searching for starfish and sand dollars and watching the dolphins. Dee returned to Mulvane, Kansas in 1972 with their newborn daughter, Stacey, when Norris was deployed to Korea. After the Airforce, Norris and Dee settled in Mulvane, Kansas. In 1974, they welcomed their son, Norris Palmer, Jr. After their kids were grown, Norris and Dee moved to Oxford, Kansas. They celebrated 50 years of marriage on January 18, 2020.
Dee wore many hats during her life. She was an amazing cake decorator, creating everything from birthday cakes to beautiful elaborate wedding cakes; a cook in the Mulvane school system so she could keep a close eye on her kids (insert disappointed look from always ‘guilty of something’ kids); a clerk at the Mulvane State Bank where she excelled in helping the elderly customers, a physical therapist receptionist where she did everything from answering phones to laundry to treatments and everything in between. Dee loved all species of babies and was almost magical at saving their lives. She found her calling during the countless nights in the calf huts with orphan calves she purchased. Those rescued baby calves led to the founding of Zelda Cattle Company. Her gentle loving hand grew it into a substantial herd where the “bucket calves” she raised acted as intermediary to the wilder cattle. She was co-owner, bookkeeper, fence mender, thistle killer, and cowgirl. Dee took great pride in being a homemaker, she was an extraordinary mom to her children and was called mom by many of her kids’ friends. She did not think twice about disciplining her own kids or her “other” kids when it was needed. She spanked many kids in the grocery store in her day. That disciplinarian personality disappeared when she became a grandma. She was a very tolerant and lenient grandma who was wrapped around the fingers of each of her grandchildren. Her grandkids could do no wrong and could get away with things that left her kids shocked and shaking their heads. She enjoyed spending time with her family, having her grandchildren around her as much as possible, reading, crocheting blankets, using her crafty mind to create all kinds of beautiful things. She was the best cook and her incredibly delicious baked goods and peanut butter popcorn will be missed…a lot. She had a sharp and brilliant mind, the biggest heart, the warmest personality, an infectious laugh and did not know a stranger. She hugged everyone. She was also very strong willed and could be quite stubborn if she set her mind to something. Dee began her life fighting at birth and left this life after fighting a very long battle with liver cirrhosis and she did it with grace, dignity, a beautiful smile and never complained about the hand she had been dealt. Her faith with God was very strong and she enjoyed sharing her faith and praying with others.
Dee is survived by her very loving and devoted husband, Norris “Fance” of the home; her mother, Betty Farley of Wellington, KS; her children, Stacey Reed (Sean) of Wichita, KS and Norris “Woody” Palmer, Jr. (Shonda) of Mulvane, KS, her grandchildren: Brock Yocom, Brody Yocom, Hailee Reed, Kayelen Palmer and Norris “Trae” Palmer, III; brothers: Lawrence Shobe, Jr. (Chrissy) of Brown Deer, WI, Kevin Farley of Wellington, and a sister, Lori Banning (Kenny) of Wellington, KS.
Dee is preceded in death by her beloved stepfather, Warnie Farley, a sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and Bill Williams, and her biological father, Lawrence Shobe, Sr.
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