Obituary of Emily Marie Palmer-Dunham

We lost our Emily Marie when she was just 26, on October 23, 2013, when she died in an auto accident in Austin, Texas, where she had been attending college. Emily Marie was born May 22, 1987, in Milwaukee, WI, the beautiful tiny daughter of Stephen Marshall Dunham and Donna Marie Palmer. The family moved back to Iowa City the following year where at a young age Emily became part of the local scene, something that continued throughout her life. Her love of music sprouted from her toddler days hanging on the hip of her dad while he worked at The Mill. This along with many other gifts – her photography, poetry, writing, her tenacity to see the beauty in all things, and to share it with all around her – was simply amazing! Emily made her own way and chose her own path from an early age. She poured heart and soul into any pursuit she chose, from being the Southeast Junior High 7th and 8th grade spelling bee champ (going on to State in 8th grade), to pursuing her photography degree after losing her portfolio in the 2008 floods. She studied cello at Preucil School of Music and later played her electric cello in the band Knorosov with three great friends. When Steve and Lora married in 2000, Emily gained a brother, Ben, and tearfully declared "I'm not an only child anymore!" Emily started working at New Pioneer Coop as a junior and graduated from City High School in 2005. She continued working at the Iowa City Coop through her first two years at the University of Iowa – it seemed fitting that she trained as a barista since she had grown up helping her dad restock his coffee in the Coop bulk bins. The 2008 flood devastated many in the Iowa City community, but Em's loss of her portfolio was overshadowed by the loss of her mother – Donna Marie died of a rare cancer later that summer. Emily persevered, along with other art students, in the chaotic year that ensued after the Art Building had to be closed, but a winter break trip to Austin with friends planted the seed of an idea to relocate and establish residency so that she could finish her degree at the University of Texas. Emily moved to Austin in 2009, but instead of enrolling at UT a year later, she rather serendipitously learned of the great photography program at St. Edward's University. She worked hard to develop a "from scratch" portfolio and was accepted into the program in 2011. Emily experienced not only great teaching and mentoring at St. Edward's, but also the nurturing and support that helped her develop and mature as a person and an artist. Her semester abroad in Southeast Asia was a highpoint in her academic experience, broadening her view and deepening her interest in learning and communicating more about other cultures through her photography. She was in her final semester and working on her senior internship as a Photocommunications major when she died. Emily and the scene in Austin were also a natural match – she worked at Book People, as a photo lab monitor, and in the last months also became licensed as a PediCab driver while she pursued her internship. She developed a community of friends that quickly became an important part of her life, even as she kept close to her Iowa City friends and family. Em's friends, teachers and professors have shared stories about her open and caring nature and how she reached out to people who may have been marginalized or overlooked. Emily looked for and saw beauty in many things and could see the inner beauty in people. She was a person who would give more than what was expected of her, and that was what made Emily Marie who she was…she grew from a spirited girl into a creative young woman who touched many and will be missed with tears and smiles. In addition to her mother, Emily's grandparents Everett Dunham, Marilyn Palmer and Don Palmer, and uncle, Doug Dunham, preceded her in death. As her family, Stephen, Lora, Ben and grandmother Dorothy deeply feel the absence of Emily in our lives already, as do a host of beloved aunts, uncles and cousins in the Palmer, Dunham and Benson clans, and innumerable friends and colleagues. A celebration of Emily's life will take place at The Mill on Sunday, November 10, beginning at 4:00 p.m. – all who love Emily are welcome to join us for a time of sharing remembrances and enjoying local music – both of which Emily would whole-heartedly approve. Memorial donations may be made to the Iowa City Free Medical Clinic, the scholarship fund at St. Edwards University via www.stedwards.edu/makegifts or Photohive.org, the student-centered photographic non-profit that Emily was working to help get started.