Maurice J. "Doc" Palmer

Maurice J. "Doc" Palmer

Doc Palmer, age 88, passed away April 28 surrounded by his wife and children at Providence St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla, WA.

Doc was born November 2, 1922, in the small town of Holdfast, Saskatchewan to Jack and Mary Palmer, their only child. Doc moved to Stillwater, MN as an infant and grew up on a farm there. Being Canadian he became a naturalized citizen as a teenager so he could enlist in the military and served in the US Army during WWII. After the service, he spent some time working in the steel mills in Pennsylvania where he met a young lady named Phyllis Davis. Doc ended up marrying his first wife Phyllis from Youngstown, Ohio in 1946. Doc and Phyllis moved to Minneapolis, MN where he went to the University of Minnesota School of Veterinary Medicine, later earning the nickname "Doc". Together they raised 5 children during Doc's private veterinarian practice in East Grand Forks, Minnesota. In 1974 Doc and family moved to Walla Walla where he worked as a veterinarian for the USDA in the meat inspection program. After Phyllis died prematurely of cancer, Doc met Arlo Lee, and they were married in 1982.

Doc enjoyed hunting and fishing but his primary interests gravitated to golf and bowling. He was an avid golfer and bowled most of his adult life in leagues from Minnesota to Walla Walla. Locally, Doc bowled for many years and served as the Secretary of the Walla Walla Valley Bowling Association as well as the Knights of Columbus League.

Doc retired in 1984 and he and Arlo enjoyed traveling and golf trips.

When Doc's body yielded to the effects of aging, his interests shifted to reading, card playing with friends, crossword puzzles, visiting the YMCA, and watching various sporting events.

Doc is preceded in death by first wife Phyllis; son Bill and son Jim.

He is survived by his wife Arlo; daughter Pat Palmer and Tom King of Beaverton, OR; son Chuck Palmer and Yvonne of Walla Walla; son Jack Palmer and Mary of Iowa City, Iowa; 4 granddaughters: Mallory, Megan, Ellie and Emma and step-sons Ron and Greg Lee.

A private interment was held at the Blue Mountain Memorial Gardens on Saturday the 30th of April.

The family invites you to a celebration of Doc's life to be held Saturday the 7th of May at the Walla Walla Country Club from 3:00 to 6:00 pm.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Blue Mountain Humane Society or the charity of your choice through the Mountain View-Colonial DeWitt, 1551 Dalles Military Road, Walla Walla, WA 99362.

Friends may write memories and sign the online guestbook at www.mountainview-colonialdewitt.com

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