Obituary of Barbara Marie Palmer

PALMER, Barbara Easter's promise was fulfilled and the beautiful soul of Barbara Palmer departed this world for the new life in Heaven. Barbara Marie Palmer passed away peacefully on March 27, 2016. She was born on December 10, 1929 to Julia (Klepac) and George Gilbert in Traverse City, Michigan. She graduated from Traverse City High School and worked for the telephone company until she married her forever-love, Perry Palmer on October 15, 1949. With their first son the couple moved to Tucson in 1953 due to Barbara's health, and Perry began his career with the U.S. Postal Service. In Tucson they had two more sons and developed an enormous extended family of life-long friends, mostly centered around the Princeton and El Ranchito Trailer Parks. Barbara worked for the phone company, Lulu Walker School, Amphi Schools and the Pima County Courts where she delighted in the happiness of issuing marriage licenses for many years and was also the Probate Registrar. With her family and many friends she loved to camp, play cards, sew, knit and crochet and of course cook. She and Perry were very active in the founding of the Gladiators Club which supported athletics at Amphitheater High School for many years. Barbara never knew a stranger and was a completely non-judgemental lady to the end. The more people and chaos around her the happier she was. She could play cards, cook a meal, bake a cake, carry on several conversations concurrently and never miss a beat. Everyone was always welcome in her home where many thousands of "Grama Donut's" home-made donuts were consumed. Although fragile in appearance, Barb overcame multiple health issues, any single one of which would have felled much stronger folks. Through it all Perry cared for her continuously and championed her on. In later years Barb loved travelling with friends in their RVs, cheering on the UofA Wildcats, and spending many summers in Traverse City and Pinetop, Arizona. In addition to her parents, Barbara was preceded in death by her two beloved sisters, Joanne and Ruth. She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Perry; her dear niece, Kay Pearce and her cousin, Bev Yankee. She is also survived by her sons, George (Robin), Joe (Vicky) and Pete (Nannette), as well as four granddaughters, Anne (Ira) Bellinger, Cindy (Dean) Rangitisch, Chelsea (Mike) Scopellite and Kendra (Stephen) Forgacs. She was the very proud great-grandmother to Ben Bellinger, Lilly Yager, Zackary Yager, Shyla Forgacs, Jocelyn Rangitsch, Savanna Rangitisch and Harper Forgacs. Barbara also leaves behind many nieces and nephews and their families in Michigan whom she loved dearly and always kept a close eye on. Barbara was the true commanding matriarch of the family, and the family will try to live up to her example. We take great comfort in knowing that all three Gilbert sisters are watching over us while playing bridge, cooking, talking and laughing loudly and non-stop. Our loss is truly Heaven's gain. A Celebration of this wonderful life will be held on Sunday, April 10, 2016 from 12:00 noon - 3:00 p.m. at the Recreation Center at Swan Lake Estates. In lieu of flowers (which Barb was allergic to anyway!), please do a kindness for someone in her honor. She would love that. Arrangements by ADAIR FUNERAL HOMES, Avalon Chapel.