Minter Isom Palmer Jr

August 30, 1924 - May 17, 2022

M.I. voluntarily joined the navy the day after Pearl Harbor and was the youngest ever first class tech specialist while stationed in Hawaii.
In 1944, stationed in Oakland, California, he married his high school sweetheart, Kathryn. Together they raised three boys Jeff, Stephen and Stephen Jr.
 Following Kathryn’s death, M.I. was blessed to meet and marry Gay Nell Harris. Her family especially Ron, Melody and Mike accepted M.I as part of their family and were a big part of M.I.’s later life. 
Minter had a gift for working and repairing electronics and began tinkering with radios at a very young age. He utilized and perfected many of these skills while in the Navy. In 1948, M.I. began employment at the Shell Development Co. Research Lab while simultaneously pursuing his a degree at the University of Houston. His persistence was rewarded and he received a degree in physics and math in 1953. He combined his knowledge of electronics and physics to design downhole sonic logging and even has his name on a few patents. In 1970 M.I. transferred to computer acceptance work and eventually computer maintenance. M.I. retired from Shell in 1986 to fill his days with his many hobbies.
 M.I. loved animals, playing golf with his buddies, fixing things around the house that others had deemed unrepairable, feeding birds and squirrels (but not blue jays), traveling in his trailer, sending e-mails in all caps and saving and investing money. M.I. also was very involved with his church homes. First with Broadway Baptist and later First Baptist Pasadena where he was an active member of his “keenagers” group. 
He was a simple man in the sense he did not cherish worldly possessions. His mind however was anything but simple and those who knew him witnessed how incredibly sharp he was up through his last days. He also received immense joy in being with and around those he loved and he clearly let others know how much they touched his life. 
 M.I. is preceded in death by his mother Marguerite, his father Minter Isom Sr, his first wife Kathryn and his son Stephen Lee Sr. He is survived by his wife Gay Nell, his 2 children Jeff and Stephen Jr, his 4 grandchildren Michelle, Jenna, Jordan, and Trace as well as his 5 great grandchildren Gabrielle, Isabel, Nathaniel, Palmer, and Jude.