Shirley Eugene Palmer

Shirley Eugene Palmer, age 94, of Tuscaloosa, died Feb. 19, 2013. Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Friday at Tuscaloosa Memorial Park with Rev. Gene Dockery officiating and Heritage Chapel Funeral Home & Cremations, a Dignity Memorial Provider, directing. Visitation will be Friday from 1 to 1:45 p.m. at the funeral home.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Louise Lambley Palmer; his son, Kenneth Wayne Palmer; three sisters, Billie Martin, Oree Langford, and Jay Belcher; and his parents, John and Lennie Palmer.

Survivors include his sister, Dean Kinard, and his granddaughter, Ashley Wells Palmer.

Born and raised in Brent, Alabama, Shirley was a proud World War II veteran of the 166th Battalion. During the war he was introduced to his future wife Louise by mutual friends Boots and Sybil Worsham. After the war's end, Shirley and Louise married and returned to Tuscaloosa. Shirley started Palmer Sheet Metal, which he successfully operated for many years before purchasing Fletcher Supply Company, a heating and air conditioning wholesaler which he and Lonnie ran. However, the peace of the woods soon called. Shirley purchased a farm outside Tuscaloosa in 1950 and soon retired to become a full-time farmer. He loved his farm—it was where he was most at peace, where he shared many hunting trips with friends, held fish fries with colleagues, built memories with family, and where he spent his final days. The farm will always be a place where he can be found.

Pallbearers will be nephews, John Belcher, Alan Langford, and Steve Kinard; and friends, Frank Burns, James Fleenor, and Beverly Lee.

Honorary pallbearers are Tommy Ingram, Lacon Carver, William "Nick" Armstrong, and Susie Carver.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of West Alabama.