Norman Allan William Palmer

Allan Palmer was a natural leader whose winning presence allowed him to take control of various situations with ease. Equipped with a clear and calculating focus, he possessed a tough-minded, “take charge” attitude. He had the ability to make even routine situations seem exciting, and he was at ease with the role of playing problem solver. Allan always sought out the scene of where the action was. Sociable, analytical and pleasant, Allan was an individual who enjoyed life’s challenges.

      Allan was born on April 24, 1958 at Grace Hospital in Windsor, ON. His parents were Norman and Marie Palmer. Allan was raised in Windsor, ON from birth to 2012, and Courtenay, BC from 2012-2018. Always able to express himself well, Allan possessed strong interpersonal skills. He was optimistic in his outlook on life and was able at all times to be open and direct in his communication. Armed with a great wit, Allan was raised to be accepting of others and to implement a strong personal work ethic.

      Blessed with a balanced attitude, Allan was able to relate well with others. His occasional role as family mediator gave him the opportunity to ease tense situations when they occurred. Allan was raised with three siblings. He had two younger brothers, Wayne and Vince, and one younger sister, Laurie. Allan had a strong desire to be treated fairly and would readily offer others the same fairness in return.

      As a young child, Allan showed his creative ability in many ways. He was outgoing and animated. Allan enjoyed new activities and pursued a variety of interests. He took part in baseball, track & field and some gymnastics (he talked alot about the rings). He was a Cub and Scout member. In his spare time he liked model cars and airplanes, rollerskating, camping and shooting.

      Known to others as a focused, logical, open-minded and somewhat driven individual, Allan was able to utilize these qualities to succeed in high school. His curious nature was spurred by his ability to maximize his personal learning style through employing a hands-on approach. He was good with facts and had an excellent memory. He attended Kennedy Collegiate and he enjoyed some courses more than others. His favorite class in high school was any class with good looking girls (according to his best friend, Danny G).

      Friends and acquaintances found Allan an easy man to get to know, and those close to him would often praise his open, practical style of communication and relaxed approach to life in general. Allan was uncomplicated and straightforward in his relationships, which allowed him to accept people for what they were. While growing up, some of his best friends were Danny Grabijas, Danny & Dennis Hall, and the Archer family. That friendship with Danny Grabijas continued throughout his life.

      On July 27, 1996 Allan exchanged wedding vows with Dorothy Lynn Masson at the Royal Wedding Gardens of Lasalle, ON. Allan was attentive to Dorothy's feelings, and he charmed Dorothy and others with his gift for being able to give freely and generously. A good listener with an engaging personality, Allan was able to bring pleasure and unexpected humor to the relationship.

      Very much like a kid himself, Allan identified with the inquisitive and creative side of his children’s personalities. He was able to direct his energy and spontaneity towards helping his children acquire added common sense skills. Allan was blessed with five children, Justine, Chantelle, Darin, Amanda and Chelsea. They were also blessed with four grandchildren, Abighale, Kensley, Penelope and Arie.

      Allan was a flexible worker who was able to draw the best from others around him. A persuasive individual who was quick to make necessary decisions, Allan’s strengths included being able to think on his feet. He could be a leader who sought impact for his decisions. Gifted with an incredible ability to read body language, Allan was able to positively manipulate situations and motivate others in order to get a task completed. He was a good negotiator who enjoyed new challenges. Allan could multi-task, and he was endowed with entrepreneurial spirit, allowing him to think beyond standard norms when it came to resolving issues in his work environment. His primary occupation was in automotive parts. He was employed for 10 years by Windor Salt and 36 years on and off by Canadian Tire.

      Allan enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. He had something of an artistic flair in many of the things that he did. He put this creativity toward all of his pastimes. His favorite pursuits were bowling and camping. He was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

      In high school, Allan played a bit of football and was part of the Rifle Team. Allan was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list was football-he was a Green Bay Packers fan.

      Allan’s natural leadership qualities placed him in consideration for public recognition, earning him accolades for his many and varied efforts throughout his life. Some of his most prestigious awards included wrestling.

      Travel and vacations were experiences that Allan truly enjoyed. He preferred to seek out excitement wherever he went and he was partial to vacations that were casual and laid back with an atmosphere of “live and let live.” He was willing to leave his plans open and flexible, just in case something more interesting came along. Favorite vacations included Algonquin Provincial Park and Sibbald Point Provincial Park.

      Allan was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of Allan’s favorites was Coco, a German Shepherd dog. His family was rounded out by his rabbits, cats and a pony.

      He semi-retired in 2012 when we relocated to BC. He used logical analysis of his semi-retirement options in order to ensure his retirement would be fulfilling. Still, he was able to easily adapt to possible changes and enjoyed just having fun and being relaxed. His new life involved relocating to Vancouver Island from Windsor, ON. He found new pleasure in touring Vancouver Island.

      Allan passed away on December 5, 2018 at North Island Hospital Comox Valley in Courtenay, BC. Allan fought a brief tough battle against cancer. He is survived by his loving wife, Dorothy; children Justine, Chantelle, Darin, Amanda and Chelsea; his grandchildren Abighale, Kensley, Penelope and Arie; brothers Vince and Wayne and sister Laurie. Services were held at Anderson Funeral Home in Windsor, ON. Allan was cremated and travels everywhere his wife goes.

      Allan was the kind of person who could win others over easily. A concrete communicator, he relied on his senses to increase his involvement and awareness of others. He was always able to provide amusing repartee to his friends and acquaintances, offering a seemingly endless supply of quips, anecdotes, jokes and stories. If Allan had a theme song written about him, it might well have been “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” He enjoyed his life and the experience of living it. This is how everyone will remember Allan.

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Allan passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 5, 2018 at the North Island Hospital Comox Valley after a brief, tough battle with cancer at the tender age of 60. Allan was the best friend and soulmate of his wife, Dorothy; a cherished and loving father of Justine Carvalho (Aries), Chantelle Palmer (Jesse), Darin Palmer (Brienne), Amanda Masson (Garett) and Chelsea Masson; cherished Poppa of Abighale & Kensely Palmer, and Penelope & Arie Carvalho; loving brother of Wayne, Laurie and Vince (Sarah) as well as many nieces, nephews relatives and friends. Allan was predeceased by his parents Norman and Marie. One of Allan’s dreams came true in 2012 when he relocated from Windsor, ON to Vancouver Island with his wife. In the short time on the island, Allan explored more of it then people who were born here or those that relocated. He loved being a tour guide for family and friends when they came to visit. He loved being near the mountains and ocean and enjoyed going exploring every chance he got. A Celebration of Life will take place at a later date in Courtenay, BC and in Windsor, ON.