Dolores Palmer
Dolores Jean Palmer was born January 5, 1936, and entered her eternal rest Sunday, February 2, 2025. Dolores grew up on a farm near Tarkio, Missouri, the daughter of Olin and Wilhelmina (Vette) Cloepfil.
Dolores attended rural one-room schools near the farm and graduated from Tarkio High School in 1954. She then entered training to become a registered nurse at St. Luke School of Nursing in Kansas City, Missouri. During nurse's training, she met Robert Palmer, whom she later married on August 25, 1957.
Bob and Dolores made their home in Lawrence, Kansas and in this union as husband and wife they were blessed with four children: James, Stanley, Jean, and Elaine.
Dolores worked as a nurse for a number of years in several venues, including Lawrence Memorial Hospital and Valley View Nursing Home. She and two other nurses were charter members of Douglas County Visiting Nurses Association, established in 1969.
In addition to her nursing skills, Dolores developed a great love for music, playing the piano since childhood, and she derived much joy in sharing the gift of music with others. Her piano skills increased, and she offered piano lessons in her home studio for 45 years in Lawrence and later in North Kansas City, Missouri. She and Bob moved to North Kansas City in 1992. Later after Bob's death she moved back to Lawrence and resided at Presbyterian Manor.
Dolores began attending the University of Kansas in 1969, with the intent of pursuing a music degree. Friends and family sometimes quipped that she was a ‘long time professional student’, as she didn't graduate from KU until 1996, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Therapy.
Dolores was a long-time member of St. John's Lutheran Church near Westboro, Missouri, where she was baptized, confirmed and married. She was a member of Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity. She also had a great love for animals, as dogs and cats were regular companions for many years.
Dolores was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Robert (2018); son, James (1980). She is survived by her son, Stanley (Dana) Palmer of Offerle, Kansas, daughter, Jean (Stan) Sauer of Lawrence, Kansas, daughter, Elaine Palmer of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; nine grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren.
The service will be streamed live on St. John's Lutheran Church YouTube page and Shawn Minter's Facebook page.
Funeral Service: 11:00 A.M., Saturday, February 15, 2025, St. John's Lutheran Church, Westboro.
Open visitation begins 9:00 A.M., Friday, February 14, 2025, Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio. There is no scheduled family visitation.
Interment: Linden Cemetery, Rock Port, Missouri
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. John's Lutheran Church, Westboro, or Parkville Missouri Animal Shelter.
Arrangements: Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio.