Kathleen Palmer Sherwood

Kathleen Palmer Sherwood passed away and was welcomed into heaven on Thursday, April 28, 2023, after a heroic battle with cancer. 

Kathleen was born in Farmington, New Mexico on July 23, 1951, to Willard A. and Lavone Palmer.  She was the third of six children. Raised on trading posts throughout the Navajo reservation, Kathleen grew up with a love of the Navajo people and their art.  

After a family move to Crown Point, New Mexico Kathleen met and fell in love with Michael G. Schmaltz.  They married on February 2, 1968.  Mike and Kathleen welcomed two children into their family, Nicholas Todd and Leila Lavone. In 1976, they moved their small family to Kirtland, New Mexico where they would raise their family.  They were happily married for 20 years until Mike's passing in 1987.

Kathleen found love again and married M. Bryant Sherwood on July 13, 1990.  Kathleen and Bryant merged their family and enjoyed family time together for nearly 33 years.  They shared 7 children, 25 grandchildren, and 62 great grandchildren. Bryant and Kathleen started their entrepreneurial career out together as co-owners of Chiti Lube in Kirtland, would later travel the great southwest as Navajo jewelry art dealers for Fifth Generation Trading Co., and finally as co-owners of the Working Man's RV Park in Kirtland. 

Kathleen was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  She faithfully served in many positions in the church.  She and Bryant found great joy as they served as full time missionaries in the Florida Orlando Mission from January 2012 to July 2013. 

Kathleen was a loving mother, grandmother, wife and friend.  Everyone who knew her would agree she loved deeply, gave freely, and will be profoundly missed.

Kathleen was preceded in death by her parents Bill and Lavone Palmer, brothers Benny and Randall (Poncho), great granddaughter Kenzie Sherwood and husband Mike.  

She is survived by her husband Braynt, children Nick (Denise) Schmaltz, Leila (Todd) Cahill, Greg (Terisha) Sherwood, Michelle (Jack) Manning, Jon (Tami) Sherwood, Lance (Danene) Sherwood, Stephanie (Bobby) Bartlett, 25 grandchildren, 61 great grandchildren, brother Stuart (Diana) Palmer, and sisters Jacqueline Palmer Baker, and Patricia Palmer.

Kathleen's life will be celebrated at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at 10 Road 6523 in Kirtland, New Mexico on Thursday, May 4, 2023 at 11:00am.  Viewing will begin at 10:00am.