Doris Sagers Palmer

Doris Sagers Palmer, 97, formerly of Oaklyn, NJ, and Cape May, NJ, passed away May 16, 2021, in Williamsburg, VA. Born to Jesse and Delores Sagers in Camden, NJ, Doris was the devoted wife of the late John Edward Palmer to whom she was married for 74 years. They met when she was 16 years old, and became engaged two years later, shortly before the attack on Pearl Harbor. They moved up their wedding date to December 20 of that year because John had enlisted in the Coast Guard and would soon leave. As a new bride with a husband away in the military, Doris pursued her passion of sewing, embroidery, and anything related to textiles. She took classes at Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia to hone her skills. These classes served her well throughout her life. She sewed clothing for herself and her daughters that were done to perfection. She was especially talented in the art of tailoring and loved to create coats and suits. She took classes in the art of rug braiding and earned a second place ribbon in the New Jersey State Fair one year for her efforts. When telling the story, she would add, after a suitable pause and with a smile, that there were only two entries in her category that year. A lifelong Baptist, she was a member of Oaklyn Baptist Church, serving in many roles. Her most rewarding was as a fourth grade Sunday School teacher, a position she held for many years. It was through her efforts that the church made certain every fourth grader received their own Bible. She continued the tradition with her precious great-granddaughters by giving them each their own Bible. She also served as a counselor at Camp Lebanon, a Baptist camp in New Jersey. Doris worked as a secretary for many years, with her most rewarding position as an operating room secretary. She enjoyed comparing stitch techniques with the surgeons. After retirement, Doris and John moved to Cape May, NJ, where she had more time to pursue knitting and quilting, but primarily concentrated on embroidery. Along with a friend, she co-founded the Jersey Cape Atlantic Chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America, and occasionally taught classes in her specialty, hardanger embroidery. She traveled to EGA meetings around the country, adding to her skillset and making lasting friendships. Her embroidery pursuits took her to Copenhagen, Denmark, to study for a week with the Danish School of Needlework; and to Hampton Court Palace for classes with the English Embroiderers’ Guild. She continued to knit until just weeks before her death. Most important to Doris was her faith in God and her love for her family. She is survived by daughter Linda Miller and her husband Mark, of Rumson, NJ; daughter Joyce Patterson and her husband, Dan, of Williamsburg, VA; grandchildren, Brian Miller and wife, Dana, and their daughters, Cameron and Peyton of Colts Neck, NJ; Chris Miller, and wife, Christie, and their daughter Ava, of Rumson, NJ; Katherine Patterson of Summit, NJ; and Andrew Patterson and wife Lauren, of New Canaan, CT. The family wishes to thank the staff of Patriots Colony Convalescent Care Center for the love and care shown to Doris for the last year and Riverside Hospice for the loving care provided to her at the end of her life. Burial will take place in Cape May, NJ.