Wynema "Nema" Wilene (Hastings) Palmer

In lieu of flowers please make donations to Other Options, Inc. and Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled the website links are located below. Also we will be streaming the memorial service live via our Facebook page. Please "like" our business page to get a notification on when we will begin. ~ OK Cremation Staff

Wynema “Nema” Palmer was born on Christmas Day 1943 in Pryor Oklahoma to William and Twila Hastings. She was named after a Native American friend of the family - Wynema is the Cheyanne name for “little girl”. William was an accountant for the government during the war and her mother was a homemaker and worked in a retail shop. Her ancestors homesteaded near Weatherford in 1893.

She and Keith met at church camp in 1957, where it was a custom for everyone to find a partner to sit with at church. Keith claims they “found each other” and went on church dates once they returned home. They married in 1962 and spent their newlywed months in a cold, converted double garage while working and going to school.

Nema gave birth to three sons: Brian, Brad, and Brent. They sadly lost Brent before birth, and Brian in 2015. Wynema and Keith went on to foster over 28 children of all ages who were pending adoption in Oklahoma County.  One of these children, a special little girl named Heidi came to them at 6 months. They fell in love with her and adopted her as their own.

Nema received her Bachelor’s degree in 1990 in special education and began teaching at Choctaw High School retiring in 2005. Nema was incredibly passionate about special education and children with special needs, and had a personal connection with hundreds of students over her career, some until recently. She was a strong advocate for the special needs community and always found ways to help those in need. She wouldn’t hesitate to “educate” people in the community when coming across situations that didn’t provide access to Heidi.

Nema had many joys - she loved tending their beautiful garden and enjoyed interior design and remodeling. She and Keith embarked on many projects together including remodeling their son Brian’s home, remodeling their rental home, and in this most recent year remodeled a “schoolie”, buying an old school bus with wheelchair lift and fully renovating it into a camper for them and Heidi (at age 78 and 80!).

But most of all, her greatest joy was being a grandmother, a great grandmother and mother to all. Along with her birth children, her adopted daughter Heidi, and her many students, she loved her “other children” - the beloved friends of her son Brian. She was ever-present on Facebook, chatting with many, and we’ll miss all her likes, loves and thoughtful responses.

She is survived by her husband Keith Palmer, her daughter Heidi, her son Brad and daughter-in-law Rebeca Palmer, her grandson Riley and granddaughter-in-law Victoria Palmer, great grandson Joel Brian Palmer, sisters Arla Hastings and Bettie Stancher, and many beloved nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, her infant son Brent, son Brian Palmer, and brothers Marvin, Jimmy and Billy Bob Hastings.

Nema lived life to the fullest and thoroughly enjoyed her life, her friends and her family until her passing.

Thank you to all the family and friends who have reached out to support us in words and deeds during this difficult time, we’re deeply grateful. We also want to express our appreciation to all the assistants and therapists who have worked with Heidi and our family over the years.