In the early morning fog on January 11, 2019, Tyler Palmer, in a tragic automobile accident left this physical life and passed into the arms of our Lord.

 

Tyler was born on March 23, 1985, in Virginia Beach, Virginia where he lived for the first eighteen years of his extraordinarily beautiful and full life. His love for his family and the entire natural world was evident from the very beginning.

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Tyler loved the ocean and became an accomplished surfer who traveled and surfed with family and friends at the beaches of Virginia, North Carolina, Pacific West Coast, Mexico, Gold Coast, Australia, Costa Rica, Thailand, North Shore Oahu and Taghazout, Morocco.

 

He found his true calling when he reached Southeast Utah's Wilderness Quest helping the young men and women who struggled with addiction. He excelled as a Field Therapist, Field Director and eventually the Wilderness Program Director. Tyler was one of the most trusted and respected senior staff in the program. Countless testimonials to his love, kindness, knowledge and sage advice have been written by his former students and their families. They often stated that he had saved their lives.

 

While the satisfaction from helping so many might have been enough, it was the marriage to the love of his life and perfect soulmate, Wendy that took him to yet another beautiful and fulfilling plateau in his already amazing life. Wendy and Tyler shared the same love for the cliffs, canyons, mountains and high desert of Moab, Utah. The pinnacle came with the birth of their sweet baby boy, Gunner James Palmer, on December 23, 2015. They were so excited to share their adventures with Gunner that they introduced him to outdoor life at Arches National Park at the tender age of three days old.

 

Their adventures with their son continued with multiple treks all over North America, as well as their epic journey to Iceland, France, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. Wendy, already a professional mountain bike racer, taught, watched and eventually marveled at the level of mountain bike mastery that Tyler attained. Tyler became an integral instructor for her Moab Mountain Bike Instruction company. They excelled in their professional lives together as a team. Their shared passion for adventure and keen entrepreneurial drive helped create two more dynamic businesses; Red Rock Base Camps and Moab Pathfinders.

 

In addition to his passion for surfing and mountain biking, Tyler was an expert at backcountry snowboarding, rock climbing/rappelling, skateboarding and had recently become a very gifted outdoor photographer.

 

Although Tyler's life was cut tragically short, he lived it to the fullest with unparalleled courage, grace, humility, and love. He gave so much to so many and was loved by all who knew him. Tyler will be missed but never forgotten. Tyler's spirit lives on in the vast expanse of the universe. We shall be reminded of his sweet loving soul with the sight of each sunrise, sunset, every falling snowflake, every wave crashing the shore, and the flight of every bird.

 

Tyler was predeceased by his grandparents; William F. A. Palmer and Lillian F. Palmer (McFadden), Capt. Harold G. Hatch and Polly Ann Hatch (Dudley). Tyler is survived by his wife Wendy L. Palmer and son Gunner J. Palmer, Moab, UT; his parents James A. T. Palmer and Julie E. Palmer (Hatch), Virginia Beach, VA; sister Nicole T. Manley (Robbins), Breckenridge, CO; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

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words by: James A.T. Palmer (father)