Dorothy Palmer, who liked to be called “Doe,” was born Dorothy Mae Corley on December 10, 1926 to Luther E. and Frances A. (Basinger) Corley. She died February 21, 2018. The youngest of eight, Doe faced a hard scrabble existence during the Great Depression in southwestern Oklahoma, but her family surrounded her with love, loyalty, creativity, generosity, humor, and music. On December 26, 1944 she married Tom Palmer, her classmate from Jackson County’s Lincoln School. Tom brought gregariousness, tenacity, and drive to the marriage. Together they passed on these combined values to three generations.
Doe was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Tom. She is survived by four children, Corley Mark Palmer and wife, Linda, Patti Palmer Ghezzi and husband, Albert, Stacy Metcalf and husband, Eddie, and Tracy Dawson and husband, Michael; her twelve grandchildren, Drew Palmer and wife, Vanessa, Carrie Sparling and husband, Jeff, Keenan Lamirand, Davon Crane and wife, Lauren, Chinnis Lamirand and wife, Tiffany, Travis Begley and wife, Macy, Matt Dawson and wife, Libbie, Leone Ghezzi, Will Ghezzi, Carlee Metcalf, Jake Dawson and Rose Ghezzi; her seven great grandchildren, Ben, Kate, Corley, Charlotte, Baighlor, Rainlee and Evie; and many nieces and nephews for whom she represented the last connection to their own parents.
Doe was a teacher by profession, and she taught her family the love of books, a few lullabies, how to play with our babies, how to make peanut brittle and coconut cream pie, and to always say something nice. She was a true Christian in belief and deed. None of her children can remember her ever being really mad at them. Her disease took from her the memories and stories she passed on to us, but it could not take her smile and sweetness. She will be missed by all who knew her.
Funeral services will be 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 27, 2018 at the Corinth Baptist Church, 17271 OK Hwy 5, Eldorado, Oklahoma, with Rev. Ricky Crouch officiating. Burial will follow at the Eldorado Cemetery under the direction of Kincannon Funeral Home and Cremation Service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Association - Oklahoma City Chapter, 6601 N. Broadway Extension, Suite 120, Oklahoma City, OK 73116.
Mrs. Palmer will lie in state in the Eldorado Chapel Sunday afternoon and on Monday.
Online tributes may be made at kincannonfuneralhome.com