Dorothy Jean Kirkley Palmer

July 25, 2011

Word has been received of the
death of Dorothy Jean Kirkley Palmer,
who was born Jan. 9, 1924, in Howe
to Lee and Eula Kirkley.
She was a 1943 graduate of Poteau
High School. In 1944 she married the
love of her life, James Palmer.
Because James was a career Marine,
they most often lived in Oceanside,
Callif., 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. James died in 1989.
She is survived by one son, James
L. Palmer and wife Patti of Watsonville,
Calif.; grandson, Ryan and wife
Brandi; two great granddaughters,
Reese Laura and Romy Loyce of
Livermore, Calif.; and a sister-in-law,
Lyndle Palmer Waters of Abilene,
Texas. Locally, she is survived by a
brother, Garry Kirkley, and a niece,
Patricia Eidschun, both of Poteau.
Graveside services will be held at
10 a.m. Thursday, July 28, 2011, at
Shady Point Cemetery with Rev.
Larry Matthiesen officiating.
Online messages may be left at
evansandmillerfuneralhomes.com.
Arrangements are under the direction
of Evans and Miller Funeral
Home, Poteau