Obituary of Marie Moran Palmer

Marie Moran Palmer Funeral services for Marie Moran Palmer of Elsberry, MO will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at the Elsberry First Baptist Church in Elsberry. Rev. Keith Barnhart, pastor of Edgewood Baptist Church, will officiate with burial in Elsberry City Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Dennis Hammack, Larry Lake, John Ed Suddarth, Billy Bob Watts, Ronnie Vaughn and Allen Siders; and honorary pallbearers, Herman Mudd, Jimmy Jeans, Joe Shipman and Floyd Lorenz. Mrs. Palmer, 92, died Sunday evening, February 22, 2009 at the Lincoln County Medical Center in Troy, MO. Born February 1, 1917 in Pike County, MO, near New Hartford, she was the fifth of six children born to William Hugo and Margaret "Maggie" Weber Moran. She was a 1934 graduate of Elsberry High School. She was united in marriage on October 2, 1937 in Oakville, MO to Thomas Arlington "Ting" Palmer. This union was blessed with two sons: Stephen A. and Keith M. Mrs. Palmer was a faithful member of the Elsberry First Baptist Church where she served as a Sunday School Teacher, Youth Leader, Church Clerk and Church Treasurer, an office she held for thirteen years. She also served as President of the Cuivre Baptist Association's Women's Missionary Union, was a member at large to the Missouri Baptist Children's Home in Bridgeton, MO, and was a member at large to the State Women's Missionary Union in Jefferson City, MO. Mrs. Palmer was a long-time member and past-president of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, Chapter AI in Elsberry; and was a charter member of the Daughters of the New Century Federated Club in Elsberry. She worked as a secretary for Phelps and Purdin Insurance Agency, State Farm Insurance Co. in Troy. She also worked as the hometown secretary for State Representative W.O. "Bob" Howard for seven years. She was preceded in death by her parents, Hugo and Maggie Moran; three brothers: Albert W. Moran, Joseph O. Moran and William O. Moran: one sister, Mary LaFern Moran; and her beloved husband of 61 years, Thomas A. "Ting" Palmer, who died April 28, 1999. Survivors include two sons: Stephen Palmer and his wife, Teddy, of West Point, VA, and Keith Palmer and his wife, Judy, of Elsberry; five grandchildren: Christie Kelly and her husband, Clyde, Katie Lanier and her husband, Chris, Maggie Van Zant and her husband, Jon, Lisa Donald and her husband, Carlos, and Mark Palmer; and eight great-grandchildren. She also leaves one brother, Harold E. Moran and his wife, Cathryn, of St. Louis; three sisters-in-law, Hazel Moran, Lois Irene Rains and Gloria Palmer; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. A dedicated Christian, Marie found great joy and fulfillment in serving her church and added fulfillment in what she termed her "Kitchen Ministry". Frequently she could be seen leaving her home with a basket containing a meal for someone just home from the hospital or a shut-in. Many in-town and out-of-town friends and family were recipients of her Christmas cookies. She was always quick to attribute such a ministry as a gift of God's Grace. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at Elsberry First Baptist Church. Memorials may be made to the Elsberry First Baptist Church in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 South Fifth Street, Elsberry, MO 63343. Online condolences may be made at www.carterricksfuneralhome.com.