Nikki Jo Palin

1941 - 2017

Nikki Jo Palin passed away on Monday, November 20, 2017 from complications due to Alzheimer's while a resident at The Haven in the Village at Carolina Place, Pineville, NC. Nikki's passing followed quickly on the heels of her beloved Norman after his death in July, 2017.

Nikki was born on May 26, 1941 in Wellington, Kansas to Oscar Franklin Grim and Rosalind Joan Anderson. A talented artist, Nikki attended Wichita State University and Kansas City Art Institute. Later, she received her bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Nikki married artist Kenneth Showell and they had a daughter, Hannah Palin. The family moved to Indiana and later to New York City. After Nikki divorced, she met Norman Palin, an owner of Mount Tom Day Camp in New Rochelle, New York where she was employed as the art teacher.

It was love at first sight with Nikki and Norm. They married on July 22, 1972 in Niagara Falls, New York. Nikki embraced her role as the step mother to Norman's two children, David and Dina, from his first marriage.

They later moved to Amherst where Norman pursued a doctorate in education. Meanwhile, Nikki finished her bachelor's degree at the University of Massachusetts. Upon completing his education, Norman moved the family to Newark, New York and then to Charlotte, North Carolina in 1976 where they remained until their deaths in 2017.

During her time in Kansas City, Nikki worked for Hallmark as an artist in their greeting card division. In Charlotte, Nikki worked at the Instructional Design Center for the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System as a graphic artist and, pursuing a career in computers, worked for Duke Power, now Duke Energy.

Nikki suffered from a brain aneurysm in 1987. Her recovery and subsequent transformation led her daughter Hannah to create an audio piece about the experience (https://transom.org/2004/the-day-my-mothers-head-exploded/) that aired on a number of National Public Radio programs across the country, including Radio Lab.

Nikki was a member of Temple Beth El in Charlotte after converting to Judaism in 2006.

Upon Norman's retirement, Nikki and Norm traveled to Europe and Israel, where they renewed their wedding vows. Nikki cheered Norman on at his tennis matches, loved to entertain, was a gourmet cook, and took epic walks. She enjoyed telling stories about Mayfield, Kansas, wearing Groucho Marx glasses, showing off the tattoo on her knee, and singing Goodbye My Coney Island Baby and Hey Good Lookin' for anyone who would listen. Nikki's good humor, quick smile, and huge heart will be missed by all who knew her.

Nikki is survived by her three children, Hannah, Dina and David Palin, their spouses and children, as well as by her sister, Terrie Traynor, aunt, Janice Bothwell, and cousins, Vanna Ortiz and Kevin Bothwell.

The family would like to thank Melly Castro, BJ Gibson, and Anne, Brian and Randy Chamberlain for their devotion to and care of Nikki and Norm during the final years of their lives.

A memorial service for Nikki Jo Palin will be held on Tuesday, December 5 at 2:00 pm at Temple Beth El, 5101 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Nikki's name to the Memory Center of Charlotte to further their work with Alzheimer patients and their caregivers. http://memorycentercharlotte.org/

Condolences may be offered at www.harryandbryantfuneralhome.com