St. George – Gladys Johnson Palmer, 89, left this life on February 4, 2021. She was born in Tropic, Utah on September 19, 1931 to Joseph Hills Johnson, Jr. and Mabel Watson Johnson, the youngest of six children. One of her brothers said Gladys was their sunshine, and she felt adored and cared for all her life. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Mark, Mazel, Grant, and Sheldon; sister, Metta; and husband, John. She is survived by children: David Palmer, Eric (Michelle) Palmer, and Paula (Dale) Taylor; as well as ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren: Christopher, Lisa, and Kayla (Kaden McDonald) Palmer, Thomas (Caroline), Michelle (Myles Kevern), Julia, and Kevin Taylor, Jacob, Nicole, and Jason Palmer, and Naomi, Colette, and Eloise Taylor, Harvey and Desmond Kevern, and Graham and Emma McDonald. She also leaves behind many loving neighbors and friends. All will miss her good cheer and generous spirit.

Gladys moved to St. George as a young girl and graduated from Dixie High School, Dixie College, and Brigham Young University. She met John Wendell Palmer when they played Mr. and Mrs. Bennett in a Dixie College production of Pride and Prejudice, and that marriage was so successful they later became Mr. and Mrs. Palmer. She said that John was one of the few people that could make her laugh. They enjoyed nearly sixty years together before John passed away. She taught elementary school for many years and later taught weaving at Dixie College. Her weaving friends called her "the engineer" because of the ways she would devise to solve problems and execute weaving designs. She enjoyed many kinds of handwork, and especially loved to read. Her children and grandchildren were her greatest joy but she also loved all kinds of creatures and was a willing participant in caring for the animals David brought home, including a raccoon, an albino skunk, a marmot (a treasure from scout camp that stayed a year or two before returning to camp), various reptiles, and of course cats and dogs. During this past year of mostly isolation she said it was one of her greatest pleasures to care for David's bull terrier and his African grey parrot, which were not only great company but a source of many funny experiences to share.

Gladys found beauty everywhere in the world around her—the clouds and blue skies, all kinds of plants and flowers, the last bit of sunshine on the red hills at sunset. Near the end when leaving the hospital after suffering injuries from a fall she stepped into the sunshine and said, "It's just remarkable." She enjoyed life and and was dedicated to service in church and community. Her children and grandchildren all feel like they hit the jackpot having such a devoted and loving mother and grandmother.

Graveside services will be held Monday, February 8, 2021 at the St. George City Cemetery, 600 East Tabernacle Street, St. George, Utah.