My brethren, consider it a cause of great joy whenever you endure various trials, for you know that
the testing of your faith will develop perseverance. And let perseverance complete its work so that
you may become perfect and complete, and not be deficient in any respect. James 1:2-4
Kymberly Dawn DeBord DePaulo Mariner, of Amarillo, Texas, peacefully went to be with Jesus on
Thursday, January 22, 2026, surrounded by her loved ones at home, after a long, hard-fought battle
with metastatic uveal melanoma.
A Celebration of Life/Memorial Service will be on Friday, January 30, at 2PM at Trinity Baptist Church,
1601 I-40 West, Amarillo, Texas.
Kyme was born on March 1, 1965, to Neal and Tona DeBord in Amarillo, Texas. She was the firstborn
of three daughters, and she took that role very seriously. From the beginning, she preferred to run
the show. Some might have called her bossy, but she liked to think of herself as aggressively helpful.
She was a beloved wife, daughter, mom, aunt, Gigi, sister and friend. She wore many hats… or
rather, glasses. Kyme's vast collection of eyewear mirrored her zest for life and attention to detail.
Every shape, size, color and style to match every occasion and mood.
Never one to meet a stranger, Kyme had a way of making everyone feel special. Her life was marked
with generosity. Even if she didn't have much herself, she was quick to give of her resources, time,
and experience. Kyme was never one to be left out or left behind---if you didn't invite her, she was
quick to invite herself.
Her famous expression, "I worked here, too," spoke clearly to the width and breadth of her job
experiences. She had too much talent for one title. Her passion for serving and helping people found
its perfect match in nursing. As traveling nurses, Kyme and her husband, Dwayne, mixed their love
of travel with their care for people, and eventually found themselves in California. There they started
a wellness business that provided even more opportunities to serve people.
Family meant everything to Kyme! Her husband, Dwayne, was the true love of her life. They were
inseparable. Her children, Michael and Alivia, were her treasures. There wasn't anything she wouldn't
do for them or any of her extended family. And it would be amiss not to mention the four-legged
loves of her life: Daisy, Bear and Viv.
Kyme loved Jesus. She pointed others to Jesus in both word and deed. As the associate children's
minister at Trinity Baptist Church, she nurtured the faith of many young people in addition to her
own beloved children. She regularly shared her faith with those she met and loved them like Jesus.
She is preceded in death by grandparents: Dean and Betty Hedgecoke; Clifford and Mildred DeBord;
Jack Simmons; Jean and Lois Ballew; and her brother-in-law, Mykle McKee.
Those left to cherish her memories are her husband, Dwayne Mariner of Amarillo, Texas; her
parents, Neal and Tona DeBord of Amarillo, Texas; her parents-in-law Jerry and Beverly Mariner of
Amarillo, Texas; her son and his wife, Michael and Liza DePaulo of Mustang, Oklahoma; her daughter
and her husband, Alivia DePaulo and Chase Kalka of Amarillo, Texas; her sisters Lesli Phulwana and
her husband, Percy of Makahlule, South Africa, and Tami Berckenhoff and her husband Mike of
Spring, Texas; her sister-in-law Stephanie McKee of Amarillo, Texas; her grandchildren Scarlett,
Cannon, Hayes, Banks; her nephews and nieces, Cole, Bekah, Tanner, Weston, Wyatt, Olly, Colton,
Dylan, and Masyn.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the charity of your choice in Kyme's honor.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

It was so important to Kyme for all of you to know how much she cherished
and appreciated the prayers, the calls, the visits, the cards, the meals, the hugs.
She was so blessed, strengthened, and encouraged by the love you lavished on her.