Faye Elaine (McMahen) Palmer passed peacefully into heaven at the age of 93 on January 16, 2026. She was born on December 17, 1932, in Magnolia, Arkansas, the youngest child of Sarah Ellen Talley McMahen and George Lafayette McMahen.

Faye was a graduate of Magnolia High School and went on to earn degrees from Henderson State University, Texas A&M University - Commerce, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Her first teaching assignment was in Bochito, Oklahoma where she taught high school. From there, she moved to Mansfield, Texas, teaching high school while completing her studies at Southwestern Seminary. She graduated in 1961 with a Master of Religious Education and was subsequently called to serve as Director of Youth at First Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama.

While in Montgomery, Faye met Army Captain Arthur Palmer, who was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia. Faye and Art were married on May 30, 1964. As an Army wife, Faye lived in Columbus, Georgia, until Art was reassigned to Korea. During that time, she returned to Montgomery and worked as a chaplain's assistant at Gunter Air Force Base.

Their next assignment brought them to the ROTC unit at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where their son Mark was born. Faye taught public school in Washington County, Arkansas. From there, the family moved to Leavenworth, Kansas, after which Faye returned to Magnolia while Art served in Vietnam. Following his return, the family was assigned to Stuttgart, Germany, where their second son, Stephen, was born in 1971.

Faye later served as a commanding officer's wife while Art commanded a tank battalion for 18 months, a role that required great strength, hospitality, and care for young military families. After several additional moves, the family returned to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and later lived at Great Lakes, Illinois, then Monterey, California and Fort Sheridan, Illinois, where they remained for five years before Art's retirement from the Army in 1987.

After retirement, Faye and Art established three homes between Fort Worth, Texas, and Bethany, Oklahoma. Faye served as a substitute teacher in the Fort Worth Independent School District for nearly 30 years, a role she greatly enjoyed. Faye and Art were active members of Travis Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, and later became active members of Putnam City Baptist Church in Oklahoma City.

Faye is survived by her husband, Arthur Palmer; sons, Mark Palmer (Jennifer) and Stephen Palmer (Angela); grandchildren, Katy Palmer, Carson Palmer (Aurianna), Caleb Palmer, Kennedy Palmer, Bronwyn Palmer, and Tate Palmer; and great-grandson, Ezra Nathaniel Palmer. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Viewing at Mercer-Adams (3925 N. Asbury, Bethany, OK) is Thursday, 12:00-8:00pm with family present from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. A memorial service will be held at 11:00am on Friday, January 23 at Putnam City Baptist Church (11401 North Rockwell Avenue, Oklahoma City). Pastor Bill Hulse will officiate.

The service will be livestreamed and may be viewed on this obituary page.