Carol Ann Houston Palmer

Carol was born in Temple, Texas, January 8, 1946, the daughter of Hubert Eugene Houston and Jane Broome Houston. Hubert was a disabled veteran of WW II, a member of the Fighting 36th. He had been in the cleanup forces during the Normandy Invasion. Jane was an Army nurse. They met in the hospital, fell in love and were married.

They moved to Abilene, Texas shortly after that. Carol had a dachshund named Fritz whom she loved very, very much. She played the flute in the high school band, and was very proficient at it. She also played the piano. She graduated from Abilene High School in 1964, and was very active in the Girl Scouts during that time, as well as the following summer.

She moved to Houston in 1966 to attend the University of Houston, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Political Science. Her degree plan was inconveniently interrupted by marriage to a husband who worked odd hours as a musician. But with great determination, she finally got that degree.

She was not just a person. She was a force to be reckoned with. She became interested in Renaissance dance, and with the aid of Cheri Roy Brown, taught herself how to perform it. She performed for a number of years at the Texas Renaissance Festival as Anne Boleyn. After her stint as Anne Boleyn, she became interested in Royal Scottish Country Dance. She studied it at the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society -- Houston and District Branch, as well as at workshops in Stirling, St. Catherine's, Edinburgh and Glasgow. She decided to become an instructor, so she devoted much personal effort and resources to becoming a certificated RSCDS instructor. Recently, she received her 25 year certificate.

Carol became well known in the Scottish Country Dance community, not only as an instructor, but also as a performer -- performing for several years at the Texas Renaissance Festival with her group, Clanfolk. She also performed with them at the Texas Folklife Festival for 19 years. She organized several workshops and balls for the Houston and District Branch. She finally quit doing those two years ago. Nobody knew how much of herself she put into those events.

After she retired, she and her husband travelled all over Europe and the United States to events related to her husband's business as a magician and translator of German magic books. Carol became a familiar sight at magic conventions in England, Germany, Austria and the US. With her scintillating personality and good looks, she was a hit with German magicians and their wives.

She enjoyed excellent health for 64 years. However, she was a cigarette smoker. On August 31, 2011, after a month in the hospital, she passed away from a rapidly developing lung cancer that completely destroyed her left lung.

She is survived by her mother, Jane, her brother David, her husband Bill, her step sisters, Bagnal Thurman and Sara Perry, her aunt and uncle Marlene and Ross Broome, a number of nieces, nephews and in-laws, and her schnauzers Holmes and Watson. She was predeceased by her father Hubert, her step father, George Thurman and her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Ruby and Willard Palmer.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Friday, September 9, 2011 at Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be 2:00 pm on Saturday, September 10, 2011 at the Chapel of Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery.

She really likes flowers, but if you prefer, you may make a donation to the American Cancer Society.