Kimberly Houghton

Kimberly Joy Houghton was born on June 7th, 1964, and passed away on September 27th, 2024. She lived a life indicative of her middle name, full of Joy. Kim was born in Delta Colorado to Richard and Jeanne (Frey) Palmer of Cedaredge Colorado. Kim spent her childhood with her parents and brother camping, fishing, riding motorcycles, and snowmobiles, taking advantage of recreating in this beautiful area and making memories. Kim also spent much of her younger years working (and playing) at her family’s ranch and orchard business Palmer and Company. While attending Cedaredge High School she worked at the local Palmer and Company packing shed.

After graduating from Cedaredge High School in 1982, she traveled and worked at Bullfrog Marina in Lake Powell, Utah. She then returned to Cedaredge as her parents and grandparents did before her, she planted deep roots in this community she loved. Kim and Jeffrey Houghton began their relationship at the Applefest street dance in 1988 and married in Cedaredge on April 14th, 1990. Together they started a family, built a house, a business, and a life they cherished. Kim always enjoyed having chickens, ducks, sheep, and other animals and always had a following of adoring farm animals wherever she went on their property. Kim enjoyed several career accomplishments like owning her fitness center, working at the local bank, and handling the day-to-day operations for Houghton Enterprises, her greatest accomplishment and joy was home raising their two daughters, Samantha and Jessie. She loved nothing more than spending time camping, hunting, fishing, and four-wheeling with family.

Becoming a grandmother to Case and Oliver was one of the major highlights of her life. Their love and connection were, unwavering. They were best friends, and the boys affectionately called her Mama. She spent all of her spare time with them, and they were inseparable to the very end.

Nicknamed “Sweet Kimmie” she was well known among family, friends, and her community for radiating love, happiness, and kindness wherever she went. Her smile, infectious laugh, and comforting hugs were things that anyone lucky enough to have met her will never forget. She was the first to lend a helping hand and provided solace to many while asking nothing in return, often being a beloved mother figure to many more than just her children. Although she was best known for her kind and friendly nature, those who knew her best knew she would fiercely protect her family whether it be friend, foe, or magpie.

She was the wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandma, friend, and person we can all only aspire to be. She was the first to bring a warm meal and a handmade gift to celebrate new life or any momentous occasion. She was always present and showed up for those she loved. The abundance of friends and family that surrounded her revealed her true wealth.

Waiting for her at the Door to Heaven is her mother Jeanne Palmer and father-in-law Fred Houghton Jr. Her spirit is carried on by her husband Jeffrey Houghton, children; Samantha (Justin) Huberd, Jessie Houghton, and fiancé Nathan Thayn, grandchildren; Case and Oliver Huberd, father Richard Palmer, brother Andrew (Rhonda) Palmer, nieces; Ashley Palmer and Mickala (Jace) Cline, great nieces; Maliya and Abby Salazar, great nephews; Ryan and Holden Cline; along with many other aunts, uncles, cousins, family members and close friends.

Kim’s life may have been cut much shorter than any of us wanted after battling stage four pancreatic cancer but as Abraham Lincoln once said “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s life in your years.” and man did she live. Even through her hardships in the end she stayed true to her optimistic self, and her true grit, faith, and grace were exemplified. Her legacy will carry on forever, reminding us to love deeply, spread joy, smile big, show up for those we love, stand your ground, and laugh often and fully so that the person three isles down in the grocery store knows who’s laugh it was, and most of all take the time to make sure you are filling your years with life!

Per Kim’s wishes, no services are planned. A celebration of life will occur at a later date. In her memory, and instead of flowers please consider donating to her GoFundMe (https://gofund.me/3ce8267c) where proceeds will go directly to helping the family cover medical bills and end-of-life costs. For alternative ways to donate and support the family please contact Jessie Houghton.

We cannot thank everyone enough for your prayers, support, and contributions over the past few months. The amount of people who showed up in ways we could never imagine is truly breathtaking and a testament to the incredible person Kim was and the beauty of this community.