Word has been received of the death of Dorothy Jean Kirkley Palmer who was born January 9, 1924 in Howe, OK to Lee & Eula Kirkley. She was a 1943 graduate of Poteau High School. In 1944 she married the love of her life, James Palmer. Since James was a career Marine, they most often lived in Oceanside, CA where Jim was stationed in nearby Camp Pendleton. When her husband was away during WWII, the Korean War, and during “Peacetime” deployments in the Cold War Era, she would make her home in Poteau and work at Poteau Food Market. While her husband fought in the Vietnam War, she waited alone in California. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1989.
She is survived by one son, James L. Palmer & wife Patti of Watsonville, CA; grandson, Ryan & wife Brandi; 2 great granddaughters, Reese Laura & Romy Loyce of Livermore, CA; one sister in law, Lyndle Palmer Waters of Abilene, TX. Locally, she is survived by a brother, Garry Kirkley and a niece, Patricia Eidschun, both of Poteau.
Graveside services will be Thursday, July 28, 2011 at 10 am, graveside at Shady Point Cemetery, Shady Point, OK with Rev. Larry Matthiesen officiating.