Herald and News 5/8/08
Thomas Christy Palmer, 58, was born in Portland,
Ore., on Sept. 24, 1949. His parents are Dorothy and
Marion Palmer of Tulelake, Calif.
He died at his home in Tulelake on May 5, 2008, surrounded by members of his family.
He was a graduate of Tulelake High School and received an AA degree from Santa Rosa Junior College in 1969. In August of that year, he joined the Navy and spent six years aboard the nuclear submarine USS Barb.
In about 1974, he met Jane Marie Gasser from Merrill, Ore. They were married on June 7, 1975, at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Merrill. They lived in Eureka, Calif., for eight years while Tom became an apprentice in auto mechanics. Their children Nicholaus and Lise were both born there.
In 1982, they moved back to Tulelake. Tom opened his own business and Jane, having received her teaching degree from Humboldt State University, started teaching at Newell Elementary School.
Civic minded, Tom enjoyed community work and served as a Cub Scout master and later as Tulelake Rotary Club president. He loved his work as a volunteer fireman with the Tulelake Volunteer Fire Department. He also took the training and became an emergency medical technician with Basin Ambulance Service. In addition, he was a Mason and Kiwanis member.
His hobbies were photography, waterskiing, fishing, hunting, and motorcycle trips. As a youngster, he was active in 4-H and FFA.
Tom was also a great help to his parents on their cattle ranch.
He was a longtime member of the Tulelake Community Presbyterian Church.
He was most recently employed by Modoc Northern Railroad.
He was preceded in death by his natural father Martin Christy on April 3, 1952.
Tom was the beloved husband to Janie for close to 33 years. His strength and silly character were two cornerstones of their life together. Perhaps Tom’s biggest fan was his 21-month-old granddaughter. Mhaya and her “Papa” shared a tender bond that only they could know. No other human being could make her instantly joyful and light up quite like he did.
Tom was a beloved hero to his three sisters Mary, Ann and Carol and embraced his son-in-law Matthew like he was his own.
He lived a life of dedication to his family and community and exemplified the true meaning of selflessness to all who knew him. His gentle simplicity and dry sense of humor made him one of the easiest people to love. Tom’s legacy of hard work, kindness and leadership will blossom through the lives and families of all who knew him for years to come. In short, he will be missed.
A private family service will be held and a Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at the Tulelake Fire Hall with a potluck luncheon to follow.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Tom Palmer Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o the Premier West Bank in Tulelake, CA 96134, with checks to please be made payable to Jane Palmer, or to the Tulelake Volunteer Fire Department, 1 Ray Oehlerich Way, Tulelake, CA 96134.
He died at his home in Tulelake on May 5, 2008, surrounded by members of his family.
He was a graduate of Tulelake High School and received an AA degree from Santa Rosa Junior College in 1969. In August of that year, he joined the Navy and spent six years aboard the nuclear submarine USS Barb.
In about 1974, he met Jane Marie Gasser from Merrill, Ore. They were married on June 7, 1975, at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Merrill. They lived in Eureka, Calif., for eight years while Tom became an apprentice in auto mechanics. Their children Nicholaus and Lise were both born there.
In 1982, they moved back to Tulelake. Tom opened his own business and Jane, having received her teaching degree from Humboldt State University, started teaching at Newell Elementary School.
Civic minded, Tom enjoyed community work and served as a Cub Scout master and later as Tulelake Rotary Club president. He loved his work as a volunteer fireman with the Tulelake Volunteer Fire Department. He also took the training and became an emergency medical technician with Basin Ambulance Service. In addition, he was a Mason and Kiwanis member.
His hobbies were photography, waterskiing, fishing, hunting, and motorcycle trips. As a youngster, he was active in 4-H and FFA.
Tom was also a great help to his parents on their cattle ranch.
He was a longtime member of the Tulelake Community Presbyterian Church.
He was most recently employed by Modoc Northern Railroad.
He was preceded in death by his natural father Martin Christy on April 3, 1952.
Tom was the beloved husband to Janie for close to 33 years. His strength and silly character were two cornerstones of their life together. Perhaps Tom’s biggest fan was his 21-month-old granddaughter. Mhaya and her “Papa” shared a tender bond that only they could know. No other human being could make her instantly joyful and light up quite like he did.
Tom was a beloved hero to his three sisters Mary, Ann and Carol and embraced his son-in-law Matthew like he was his own.
He lived a life of dedication to his family and community and exemplified the true meaning of selflessness to all who knew him. His gentle simplicity and dry sense of humor made him one of the easiest people to love. Tom’s legacy of hard work, kindness and leadership will blossom through the lives and families of all who knew him for years to come. In short, he will be missed.
A private family service will be held and a Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at the Tulelake Fire Hall with a potluck luncheon to follow.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Tom Palmer Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o the Premier West Bank in Tulelake, CA 96134, with checks to please be made payable to Jane Palmer, or to the Tulelake Volunteer Fire Department, 1 Ray Oehlerich Way, Tulelake, CA 96134.