Obituary of Jerry R. Palmer

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Jerry Richard Palmer on July 21, 2022 at the VA Hospital in Boise, ID. He was born on June 23, 1944 in Norfolk, VA. After a few moves around the United States of America, his family eventually made their home in Pocatello, ID. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1962 through 1964. When he moved from Norfolk, VA to Pocatello, ID, he fell in love with Idaho and considered Idaho his permanent home. He enjoyed fishing and hunting, finding a job and working at Riley Carkick Construction and Macks Inn, Island Park ID, operating the service station.

In 1980, while visiting Kuna, ID, he found the love of his life, Melanie J. Palmer. They were married April 3, 1981. Their daughter, Carolyn Sue Palmer joined them on December 29, 1985.

Jerry loved to work with wood products, repairing vehicles, and a commercial truck driver. He was employed by Marlin Patterson Custom Cabinets, Boise Moulding, Jim Aaron Hardwood Floors, Willis Shaw Frozen Express (truck driver), Castle Cars (Volkswagen mechanic), Idaho Correctional Industries (computer aided cabinet draftsman), and Idaho Transportation Department Maintenance Shop (Chinden Blvd.). He also drove school bus as a subcontractor for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (for summer fire crews). In his spare time, he took on side jobs as a car mechanic, welder, and body restoration of classic vehicles and worked on his own vehicles.

Jerry was a member of American Legion Post 142 (Kuna) and a Life Member of the SGT Devin Daniels Post No. 7019 Veterans of Foreign Wars (Kuna).

Jerry was an avid outdoorsman and loved hunting, fishing and camping in Idaho. He shared that love of the outdoors with his wife and daughter. Together they have had a lot of adventures.

Although we are saddened by his death, his health issues had kept him from his real love, getting outdoors hunting and fishing with family. He is survived by his wife, Melanie; daughter, Carolyn Palmer and brother, Jack Palmer. Preceding him in death are his father, Yarbrough Palmer Sr.; mother, Audris Luck Palmer and sisters: Anna Leavitt and Shirley Foelsch. In Lieu of flowers we are letting people know that they could make a donation in Jerry’s name to the Veterans of Foreign Wars – service animals for Veterans project. (https://sites.google.com/site/vfwpost7019/home?authuser=0)

Memorial services will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday August 19^th at Kuna Baptist Church.  Military Honors will be held at Idaho State Veterans Cemetery at 2:00 PM.  Services are under the care of Accent Funeral Home and Cremation, Meridian.  Remembrances may be left for the family at www.AccentFuneral.com.