Charlotte Marie Ann (Dault) Palmer

Charlotte was born in Muskegon, Michigan on July 20, 1929 to Charles Dault and Ann Marie Henrietta Bourret. Charlotte was a woman who had an endless amount of love to give to everyone. She attended Glenside Schools in Norton Shores. Charlotte married James Roland Palmer on June 28, 1949 and spent 27 darling years together.

Charlotte was preceded in passing by husband, James Roland Palmer (5/13/1926-5/30/1981), children, Charles Palmer (6/27/1957 to 10/14/1990) and Amber Williams (10/27/1987 to 4/20/2018) and cousin, Joan Gawron.

Charlotte is survived and remembered by children, James (Fran) Palmer, Jerry (Cindy) Palmer, David Palmer, Gloria Palmer, Mary Jo (Larry) Butcher, Allen (Katy) Palmer, Terry Palmer, Jeff (Val) Palmer, Nancy (Phillip) VanSluyters, and Joe (Sarah Molina) Palmer, 18 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren, 5 great great grandchildren, and one soon to be great great grandson.

Spouses that remarried were still always remembered and loved by Charlotte.

There will be visitation at Ever Rest Funeral Home (1783 E Keating Ave, 49442) on Thursday, March 18, 2021 from 2pm to 6pm. Funeral Service will be at Sacred Heart Catholic Church (150 E Summit Ave, 49444) on Friday, March 19, 2021 at 11am with Burial at Sunrise Memorial Gardens (2188 Remembrance Dr, 49442) to follow services.

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The Story of Charlotte Dault-Palmer

Charlotte Marie Ann was born at Mercy Hospital on July 20, 1929 to Charles Joseph Dault (53) and Ann Marie HENRIETTA Bourret (40). They came to the United States from Canada. Charles was born on 4/19/1876 and died on 8/19/1955. Henrietta was born on 7/7/1889 and died on 10/18/1968. Charles was Henrietta’s first and only husband, she was 37 when she got married. She married late in life because she was busy taking care of her elderly parents. Charles had four sons from a previous marriage, Clifford, Edward, Theodore, and Napoleon. Charles had bad eyesight, so he never owned a car. He worked at Shaw Walkers for 42 years; he would walk or car pool with a friend. The four sons would visit often, and they all adored their new “sweet little sister” Charlotte. She was pampered by all four of her half-brothers, and Charles was thrilled to be blessed with his baby girl.

The family would take the city bus for shopping, going to the beach, and picnics at Lake Michigan. Charlotte made her first communion at St. Jeans. She started kindergarten at Glenside where she went up to the 9th grade. She loved her childhood bike. At 8 years old, she got a brand new blue and yellow Schwinn with a basket. She would ride it from 1881 Dowd St to Strong Ave where she went to school. As a young girl, Charlotte would rush home after school to listen to Dark Shadows on the radio. Her pure white Maltese dog named, of course, Whitney, would sit with her.

As a 16 year old teen, Charlotte had a friend, Deloris. They loved catching the bus to go downtown to the Regan & State Theater and watch a movie or shop. Her brother Eddy would take her to the movies but only if there was a cowboy movie playing. Deloris had a brother named Bob Winiki, he was Charlotte’s first boyfriend. They were only allowed to go on group dates. Charlotte and Bob often sat on the porch swing and talked about their futures. (I will bet most of you are thinking about the song Just A Swingin by John Anderson right about now.) That’s okay, but on this very swing Bob breaks the news that he is joining the Army. That day ended the relationship. Bob served in the Army and came back to Muskegon, got married, and attended Sacred Heart Church.

Charlotte worked after school at Phil’s Soda & Bar, where she loved to make sodas (Strawberry and chocolate malts.) After 9th grade, Charlotte quit school and got a job working behind the candy counter at S.S. Kresge’s. Sometimes she would work at the dumb waiter; they had a kitchen upstairs and would send food down and dirty dishes up. At this job she met a nice girl named Pauline Palmer. They loved hanging out together after work and were always so excited when a Carnival would come into town.

As I said before, Charlotte was adored by her father. A classmate, Jean Unger, remembers her being the nicest and best dressed student in the classroom. Jean’s brother, Roy Unger, swooned over Sweet Charlotte. If you walked up to her house, it would appear to be very simple, but when you entered through the door, you would have seen a very comfortable home. A large piano sat in the living room with an accordion sitting off to the side. Charlotte could play both of them. Being like an only child because her brothers were so much older, Charlotte was close to her cousin, Joan. According to Joan, Charlotte was pampered and loved by everyone.

One day as Charlotte and Pauline were sitting in the Soda Shop, her brother Jim and his good pal Bud Broadbent came in. Both of the young men were quickly attracted to Charlotte. Even though Bud put a lot of energy into trying to date Charlotte, she chose Jim.

Jim purchased an engagement ring to present to Charlotte. I am sure he prepared what he would say to her and readied himself for the occasion. It did not end as well as he had hoped. In his nervous haste, he dropped the ring onto the floor of the car. Bending over to retrieve it, he slammed his nose on the steering wheel, breaking it. Between the mix of Jim’s pain and bloody nose, Charlotte accepted the proposal. Jim’s friends were very sympathetic about his plight, and all wore bandages on their noses when they met up with him the next day.

They were married 6/28/1949 at St. Jeans; it was a very large wedding, and Charlotte was adorned in a beautiful long flowing white gown. Their reception was held at the Henry Auditorium. During the reception, everyone heard a loud commotion outside. When they went to see what it was, they saw someone was shooting off fireworks. This delighted the young bride. As they left the hall, Charlotte’s dad looked at her new husband and very seriously said: You better take good care of my little girl.

The couple moved into a house on Burton Rd. Charlotte asked her brother Ted if she could borrow his War bonds, which was how she got her first washer. They didn’t stay there long because the floors were cement and cold. Charlotte was pregnant and the cold made her legs ache.

Jim had a job at Campbell Wyant & Cannon Foundry, but it was dirty and made his throat hurt. He found a job at Riegler’s Water Well Drilling and knew this job was the one he liked and could be good at doing. He always loved gardening and had a garden every year at his mother’s house on Henry Street. They ended up moving a lot, and Charlotte’s little family continued to grow. She lost her beloved father only 6 years after her marriage. Living on Sixth Street ended when Jim caught the mattress in the front porch on fire; it nearly gutted the kitchen. They moved from there in such haste, they left Charlotte’s much loved piano behind.

Bud Broadbent ended up marrying a young woman named Hazel, and they all stayed lifelong friends. Charlotte and Jim stayed married over 25 years, adding a grand total of 11 children to the family. Charlotte has always been a loving person and never tired of adding young women and men into her fold. Little children would always love telling people about their very special loving Grandmother...

As I went to put my notebook away, I asked her one last question. How hard was it to raise 11 children in poverty? She looked at me oddly, and I repeated it: How hard was it to raise 11 children being so poor? She laughed at me and said, Cindy, we weren’t poor, I made homemade bread every Friday; we had all we needed. LOVING CHARLOTTE.

-Cindy Palmer