Mary M. (White) Palmer, 1915-2011

PALMER, WHITE, BELL, HENNESSEY, THEIR, HOLZER, MCBRIDE

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 2/26/2015 at 18:26:17

Dubuque Telegraph Herald - October 27, 2011

FARLEY, Iowa -- Mary M. Palmer, 95, of Farley, died at 9:05 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011, at Oakcrest Nursing Home, Dyersville.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct, 28, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Farley, with the Rev. Dennis Cain officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery, Farley. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. today at Reiff Funeral Home, Farley, where there will be a wake service at 3:30 p.m. and a CDA rosary will be recited at 4:30 p.m.

Mary was born on Dec. 24, 1915, in Farley, daughter of Julius and Genevieve (Bell) White. She attended St. Joseph's Catholic School in Farley and upon graduation obtained a teaching certificate from the University of Dubuque.

She married Carl J. "Chick" Palmer on June 14, 1947, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Farley.

Mary taught for 34 years at Rockville School in Delaware County, Farley Bankston Catholic School, Farley Public School, Western Dubuque and Xavier. She thoroughly enjoyed teaching and always said "I never had a bad student." In her retirement years, she very much enjoyed the fruits of her labor with frequent visits from former students.

She was an avid history lover, had an exquisite memory and ability of recall which she put to great use in the mid-'90s by becoming chairperson of the Farley History Book. She worked many, many long hours along with other Farleyites, gathering pertinent information, pulling it all together, and finally realizing the finished product: "The Farley Iowa Heart of the Cornbelt 1879-1996 History Book." Written on the inside cover of the first printed copy given to the family, she stated, "Can't believe I've accomplished this. Enjoy!!!!" She was extremely proud of the accomplishment as was her family. The only piece she always felt was missing was the establishment of a Farley Historical Museum.

Mary always was involved and throughout life belonged to the St. Joe's Altar and Rosary Society, Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Retired Teachers Association, the Farley Historical Society, and in 1969 was a member of the dedication committee for the Farley Commercial Park. In 1997, she received the Farley Citizen of the Year Award.

Mom enjoyed family and cherished her grandchildren. She vacationed in Ireland with her granddaughter, enjoyed trips to Des Moines to visit her grandson, and in her late 80s became an avid Beckman baseball supporter, following her youngest grandson through high school baseball and to the Iowa State Tournament three summers in a row.

She leaves behind her son and daughter-in-law, John and Peg (Kennedy) Palmer, of Dyersville; and grandchildren, Gina and Rick Smith and great-grandchild Sam Smith, and Christopher and Sarah Palmer, Jeff Palmer and Kristi Hennessey and her son, Chance.

She will be dearly missed here on earth but has been reunited in heaven with her husband, Carl; a son, Joseph; her sisters, Kay Their, Alice Holzer and MaDonna McBride; a brother, Kenny White; and mother and father, Genevieve and Julius White.