Obituary of William Verl Palmer

Watch the Tribute William "Will" Verl Palmer May 02, 1962 - May 15, 2013 Funeral services for William “Will” V. Palmer, 51, of Lovington, NM will be held on Monday, May 20, 2013 at 10:00 am at First United Methodist Church with Bro. Harry Pittam and Bro. Danny Kirkpatrick officiating. Burial will follow at Peaceful Gardens Cemetery in Lubbock, TX at 4:30 Texas time. Arrangements are under the direction of Kirby-Smith-Rogers Funeral Home. Will was born on May 2, 1962 in Matador, Texas to Bill and Pearl (Sedgwick) Palmer and passed away on May 15, 2013 in Lovington. He grew up in Roaring Springs, TX and graduated from Motley County High School in 1981. He married his high school sweetheart, Shelley Jackson in Matador, TX on December 31, 1982. He attended Texas Tech University until his father passed away and he returned home and got involved in the oil business. While employed for Amoco Productions and living in Rule, TX, he served as mayor. He later moved to Midland and worked for Plains Petroleum and then in 1991 he came to Lovington; and for the last several years, Will has been happily employed by Read & Stevens as Operations Manager. He was an active member of First Baptist Church, Lovington Rotary Club, Lovington Chamber of Commerce, New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, and served on the Board of Directors for Lea County Electric Company. He was Past Master of Lovington Masonic Lodge # 46 and served as a loyal and faithful worker in the Lodge he loved. Will, a great mentor, strong leader, generous and good-humored man, was loving and kind to all, especially his family and friends and those in need. He was also an avid Texas Rangers fan and devoted cyclist and was involved in theater and politics where he excelled in public speaking. In his spare time, his interests included researching and writing a book about his own father’s experiences as a soldier during WWII. As a citizen of Lovington, he was committed to improving the quality of life for all. Will, a supporter of the youth of Lovington, encouraged all young people to apply for scholarships and continue their education. He was preceded in death by his father, Clell William “Bill” Palmer and an older sister: Barbara Ann Anderson. He is survived by his wife Shelley of the home; one son: Matt and wife Kristen Palmer and their two children, Kinley Brooke and Kyson Ross of Lubbock, TX; one daughter: Micah Palmer of Irving, TX and her fiancée Robert Austin Blair of Plano, TX; his Mother: Pearl Palmer Patten of Lubbock, TX; three brothers: Clarence and wife Mary Allen of Missouri; Tommy Lee and wife Nancy Palmer of Lubbock, TX; and Buddy and wife Linda Allen of Pampa, TX; five sisters: Veda and husband Jerry Hunt of Midland, TX; JoAnn Reagan of Quitaque, TX; Willita and husband Larry Burkes of Paducah, TX; Becky Jewkes of Onalaska, TX and Linda and husband Arnold Wayne Parker of Boyd, TX; and a host of extended family and friends. Visitation will be held on Sunday, May 19, 2013 from 1:00 pm until 8:00 pm at the funeral home with family in residence from 1:00 until 3:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lovington Masonic Lodge #46 Scholarship Fund, PO Box 1611, Lovington, NM 88260; Lovington Rotary Scholarship Fund, PO Box 1377, Lovington, NM or Lovington Mainstreet Beautification Project, PO Box 1418, Lovington, NM 88260. Condolences may be sent to www.kirbysmithrogers.com.