PALMER, James Raymond

PALMER, COLLINS, SMITH, MOORE, CARSON, SIMMONS, URY, GEORGE

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 5/2/2015 at 16:09:05

Obituary ~ James Raymond Palmer
July 13, 1924 - April 6, 2015

Leon Journal-Reporter
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
Thursday, April 09, 2015

James Raymond Palmer, age 90, was born July 13, 1924, at home, west of Van Wert, Iowa, the third son of Carrel Vern and Sarah Olive (Collins) Palmer. He passed away on April 6, 2015 at Westview Acres in Leon, Iowa. He grew up in this area except for two years in Van Wert and one year in Clarke County, Iowa.

This was the time of farming with horses. As a few years passed, tractors came into the scene. Raymond drove a Fordson tractor doing some plowing on his tenth birthday in 1934. He also, was harrowing with horses at about the same time. As his dad was one of the first to have a tractor in the area, the boys did some custom work for other farmers. His dad had a threshing machine and a sawmill so Raymond was involved in both of these operations. Of course, the oats had to be cut and the bundles shocked to have them ready for the threshing. Raymond said his dad always dragged that binder out and started on the oats the 4th of July. He was sure he did that so they couldn't go to celebrations taking place that day.

The corn was picked by hand. After breakfast and chores were done, he would go pick corn until it was time for him to get over the fence and go to school. Raymond worked for a dollar a day for a neighbor when he needed extra help. He saved that money and bought his first car for $100.00. Then he got a Sunday paper route, he could clear $14.00 a Sunday if everyone paid.

The family moved near Garden Grove in the spring of 1942. Raymond helped with the farming there and worked part time at Garden Grove Produce. Elmer Gilbert of Van Wert needed a truck driver for two years while one of his drivers was in the service. He filled in then went back to Garden Grove Produce full time. A little later a job with Decatur County maintaining roads out of Garden Grove was open. He decided to take that job. He was there eighteen years, the last two years he drove a rock truck. He then devoted his time to farming and drove a truck from the Humeston Sale Barn when they needed an extra driver. He especially liked driving a truck and had said, "If I was 21 and single, I would be an over the road truck driver."

Soon after the family moved to the Garden Grove area, Raymond got a glimpse of the girl that would become the love of his life. She saw him at about the same time and liked what she saw. That girl was Evelyn Smith. But it took them a little over four years to get together and to realize maybe it was love at first sight. They were married May 17, 1947, and were blessed with one son, Jimmy Lynn. Later they were blessed with two granddaughters, Denise Rae and Stacie Lynn, five great grandsons, Corbin, Mason, and Thane Simmons and Kayden and Karsyn Ury.

Preceding Raymond in death were his parents; son, Jimmy Palmer; three brothers, Robert Palmer and wife Maxine, Wayne Palmer, and Harold Palmer; brothers-in-law, Lloyd Moore, Arnie Smith, James Smith and wife Helen, Raymond Smith, and Robert Smith; sisters-in-law, Frances Carson, Lois Smith, and Ruth Palmer; and one nephew, Gary Moore.

Those surviving are his wife, Evelyn Palmer, of Leon, Iowa; brother, Carrel Palmer of Garden Grove, Iowa; sister, Christine Smith of Madrid, Iowa; two granddaughters, Denise Simmons and Tom Arnold, their children, Corbin, Mason, and Thane Simmons of Murray, Iowa and Stacie and Ed Ury and their children Kayden and Karsyn of Blythedale, Missouri; sisters-in-law, Karen George and husband Joe of Corydon, Iowa, Ladine Palmer of Leon, Iowa, and Hazel Smith of Decatur, Iowa; and brother-in-law, Don Carson of Osceola, Iowa. There are nieces and nephews and since Raymond came from a large family of aunts and uncles, there were many cousins. Garry Collins was a favorite cousin. He was in the area more, so he and Raymond had some good times visiting and sharing stories.

Funeral services will be at the Slade - O'Donnell Funeral Home in Leon, Iowa at 10 a.m. Friday, April 10, 2015, with Pastor Ron Helton officiating. Burial will be in the Garden Grove Cemetery, Garden Grove, Iowa.

Slade-O'Donnell Funeral Home of Leon and Lamoni were in charge of arrangements.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2015

Decatur Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen