Rev. William "Bill" Palmer

Rev. William E. Palmer, a priest of the Diocese of Tyler and Pastor of St. Mary of the Cenacle Parish in New Boston, Texas, passed away on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at the age of 65.

The visitation and Vigil for the Deceased will be held on Sunday, June 14, at 6 p.m. at St. Mary of the Cenacle Catholic Church in New Boston, with Very Rev. Francis O'Dowd presiding. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, June 15, at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler, with the Most Rev. Gregory Kelly presiding. Interment will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Tyler.

Father Palmer was born on September 21, 1960, in Cottage Grove, Oregon, to Albert and Josephine Palmer. Before answering the call to the priesthood, he worked as a competitive swimming coach.

As a seminarian for the Diocese of Tyler, he attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Hales Corners, Wisconsin, and served at Prince of Peace Parish in Whitehouse. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 21, 2003, and began his priestly ministry as Parochial Vicar at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler. His subsequent assignments included Priest-in-Charge of Our Lady Queen of Angels Mission in Overton (2005), Parochial Vicar at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (2006), and Pastoral Administrator and later Pastor of Mary Queen of Heaven Parish in Malakoff (2009).

In 2015, Father Palmer returned for a time to his native Oregon, where he served as Parochial Vicar at St. Mary Parish in Eugene. He returned to East Texas in 2020 to serve as Priest-in-Residence at Immaculate Conception Parish in Jefferson and, in 2021, was appointed Parish Administrator of St. Mary of the Cenacle Parish in New Boston.

In addition to his parish assignments, Father Palmer also served the Diocese as a member of the Diocesan Liturgical Commission.

Father Palmer is survived by his brothers and sisters: James Palmer, Patricia Palmer Rouse, Jeanne Palmer Gibson, and Joseph Palmer; as well as by several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Josephine Palmer, and by his brothers, John Palmer and Robert Palmer.