Johnnye Beth Palmer

b. 14 December 1927, d. 30 August 2010
  • Johnnye Beth Palmer was born on 14 December 1927 in Edcouch, Hidalgo County, Texas.
  • Jewett M. Palmer and Myrtle Ernestine Bay appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Edcouch, Hidalgo County, Texas. Other members of the household included Johnnye Beth Palmer.
  • The following appeared on 10 September 1931 in The Normangee Star: While not unprepared for it, all who knew him were saddened when last Thursday morning about 11 o'clock came the word that Jewett Palmer had passed away. As stated in last week's paper, he had been brought from the hospital to his boyhood home on Monday previous. He was conscious at the time that the end was nearing and he wanted to die at the home of his mother and father.
         He was buried Friday afternoon in Hopewell Cemetery, the services being conducted by Rev. S. H. Innes assisted by Rev. W. A. Craven of Rockdale, and Rev. R. N. Davis. Over the casket was draped a flag of the Stars and Stripes, in memory of his service for his country during the World War. The mound was completely covered with floral offerings.
         Jewett leaves a wife and a little daughter, Johnnie Beth, 3 year old, father and mother, two sisters, Mrs. Lillian Sandel, and Mrs Gladys Graumann, two brothers, Lee and Lamar, and a number of other relatives, including his aged grandmother, Mrs. D. L. Palmer, and a host of friends.
         Jewett M. Palmer was born November 16, 1899. His early life was spent in Normangee, where he received his education. In 1917 he joined the army, and was assigned to the medical service where he learned the druggist's profession. Leaving the army he worked in the drug stores in a number of places including Montgomery, Port Arthur, Abilene, Richards. About the year 1925 be bought a half interest in a drug store at Iola of which he became manager, and to which he brought a pronounced success. A couple of years later he sold his interest there and moved to Edcouch as that town was being launched as a new municipality. There he had a splendid success in business, growing with the town. Last spring his popularity was attested by his election as mayor of his town, even though he personally did not seek the election.
         In early life he joined the Methodist church, and his life has been in every way in harmony with his profession. He was a Mason and a member of the American Legion. He was married December 22, 1922 to Miss Ernestine Bay of Richards, who the year before had been a teacher in the Normangee Schools. While at Iola he served as steward in the Methodist church, and assisted in organizing the Methodist Church in Edcouch.
         The esteem in which he was held in Edcouch was attested by eight of the leading business men of that town coming from there to be present at the funeral, and returning later the same day. They brought Mrs. Palmer messages of condolence from the local Masonic Lodge and from the city council, and perhaps from other organizations.
         Present at the funeral were a number from Iola, and Richards, from Anderson and from other places where Jewett was known, as well as this party from Edcouch down in the Valley.
         Mrs. Bay, mother of Mrs. Palmer, was here from Richards, and her sisters Mrs. Woods from Anderson, Mrs. Brown from Teague, Mrs. Crutchfield, from Anderson and Mrs. Ellison from Temple, sisters of Mrs. Palmer, who with their families were here for the funeral.
         Jewett was one of the finest of the many fine young men who have gone out from Normangee, and while we mourn the loss of a young man cut down in his prime, a young man of great promise, we all feel that his life has been a benediction, and we have a right to feel proud that he is a product of Normangee.
         Present at the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Will Barron, Pearce Yeager, H. H. Blagraves, Mrs. J. W. Gilpin, and Mrs. J. D. Moore from Iola, and A. T. Moore, T. C. Hardin, M. Faring, W. Wade, R. D. Bell, M. Lackland, Gene Martin, and P. Strohn from Edcouch.
         Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Ellison and daughter, and Mrs. H. A. Ellison from Oenaville, Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Bay Sr., J. F. Bay Jr., and Miss Maegene Bay from Huntsville, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Crutchfield and Mrs. J. D. Crutchfield from Singleton, Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Wood, Gertrude Wood, and Mrs. M. K. Hixson from Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. N. A. Jones, Mrs. J. E. Bay, Mr. and Mrs. B. N. Lenorman, and Mrs. J. T. Haynie from Richards, and Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Brown from Teague.
  • James Myrl Cellum and Myrtle Ernestine Bay appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1940 in Edcouch, Hidalgo County, Texas. Other members of the household included Johnnye Beth Palmer, Barbara Kay Cellum.
  • The following appeared on 10 July 1941 in The Brownsville Herald: (Edcouch) Mr. and Mrs. Irving Wood have departed for their home at Navasota following a visit here with an aunt, Mrs. J. M. Cellum, and family.
         Mrs. J. M. Cellum and daughters, Barbara Key and Johnnye Beth, are spending a month in Brownsville.
  • The following appeared on 15 January 1943 in the Harlingen Valley Morning Star: (Edcouch) Mrs. Myrtle E. Cellum, 40, died at 9:25 p. m. Thursday following a lingering illness. She had been a resident of the community for a number of years, having come here from Richards, Grimes county, Texas.
         Surviving are her husband, J. M. Cellum; two daughters, Jonny Beth Palmer and Barbara K. Cellum, of Edcouch; and four sisters.
         Funeral services will be held at 5 p. m. Friday from the Methodist Church here with Rev. Roy E. Rader officiating. Pallbearers will be E. W. Martin, Jim Howell, George Milliford, C. G. Hart, Gordon Smith and Jack Barnum. The body will be taken to Richards Friday night in a Martin-Nelson ambulance from Westlaco.
  • The following appeared on 27 January 1943 in the HarlingenValley Morning Star: (Edcouch) Johnnye Beth Palmer has gone to Austin, where she will make her home with an uncle, Lamar Palmer, and Mrs. Palmer. She will continue her school work at an Austin high school and following her graduation next year will enroll at Texas University.
  • The following appeared on 19 August 1945 in The Brownsville Herald: (Edcouch) Above is shown Miss Johnnye Beth Palmer, who recently returned to her home in Houston following a visit in Edcouch in the home of her step-father, J. M. Cellum and family. It was her first visit here in three years. Miss Palmer has made her home in both Austin and Houston since leaving Edcouch.
  • She married Olen Omar Coulter Jr. on 31 August 1947 in Houston, Harris County, Texas, in the First Methodist Church chapel.
  • The following appeared on 18 September 1947 in The Brownsville Herald: (Edcouch) Miss Johnny Beth Palmer of Houston, formerly of Edcouch, and Olen Omar Coulter Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Olen Omar Coulter Sr. of Houston, were married Aug. 31 at the First Methodist Church chapel in Houston.
         The ceremony took place before members of the immediate family and a few close friends.
         After the wedding, the couple left for Galveston for their honeymoon. After returning, they will stay with Mr. Coulter's parents for a short time before moving into their own home.
         Mrs. Coulter, who lived in Edcouch until the death of her mother, Mrs. J. M. Cellum, has resided in Houston for several years, where she is employed by a large business concern.
         Mr. Coulter is associated with a chemical firm in Houston.
         Mrs. Coulter visited her sister Miss Barbara Kay Cellum, and her step father, J. M. Cellum and family just before her marriage.
  • The following appeared on 30 October 1947 in The Brownsville Herald: (Edcouch) Mr. and Mrs. Olen Coulter Jr. of Houston spent the past week in the J. M. Cellum home. Mrs. Coulter is the former Miss Johnnye Beth Palmer.
  • Johnnye Beth Palmer died on 30 August 2010 at age 82 in Roswell, Fulton County, Georgia.
  • The following appeared on 5 September 2010 in the Indiana Post-Tribune: Johnnye Beth Coulter passed away peacefully on August 30, 2010 in Roswell, Georgia. Johnnye was born on December 14, 1927, in Edcouch, Texas to Jewett and Myrtle Palmer. Johnnye was married to Olen O. Coulter, Jr. and together they raised two children in Hobart, Indiana. Johnney received her Bachelor of Science in Education and her Master of Science in Education from Indiana University. Johnnye taught 5th grade at George Earl and Forman Elementary Schools until her retirement in 1985. She then moved to Columbia, Missouri and was active as a museum docent. She retired in Fort Myers, Florida where she lived until 2007. Johnnye is preceded in death by her husband Olen (Bud) O. Coulter and her son Michael O. Coulter. Johnnye is survived by her daughter Sharon (Dave) Rippe of Roswell, Georgia, granddaughter Mariah Rippe of Washington, DC, and grandson Travis Rippe of Atlanta, Georgia. Private funeral services were held through the Kraft Funeral Services and Crematory 370 N. County Line Road in Hobart.
  • Last Edited: 18 Jan 2016

Family: Olen Omar Coulter Jr. b. 13 February 1925, d. March 1978