Gary Franklin Palmer

Gary Franklin Palmer, born January 3, 1938, in Warren, Ohio to Robert Dayton Palmer, Sr. and Lois Irene Gilbert Palmer, passed away on March 18, 2025, in Jackson, Mississippi. He lived a life full of love, laughter, family, and friends.

Gary was a devoted husband, father, brother, and grandfather. A 1956 graduate of South High School in Denver, Colorado, he went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from The University of Denver, where he was a member of Alpha Kappa Psi fraternity.

After serving in the U.S. Army beginning in 1957, Gary returned home and put himself through college with hard work and an academic scholarship. While at the University of Denver, he discovered a love for hockey, which led to years of referring semi-professional games.

Gary built his career as a manufacturer’s representative in women’s apparel, traveling across the country. He was also a published cartoonist with a sharp eye and wit.

He is the eldest of four siblings and a caring older brother, always setting the example. His sense of responsibility, humor, and loyalty stayed with him throughout his life. In the years following college, he married, started a family, and built a home in Denver.

Gary loved golfing, fishing, drawing cartoons, and cheering on the Denver Broncos. He followed current events closely and never passed up a good conversation. Most of all, he cherished time spent with his family.

He is survived by his wife Diane Swan Palmer; his former wife Gretchen Carman Palmer; his children David L. (Edna) Palmer, Steven D. (Diana) Palmer, Genifer (Bryan) Freeman, and Tran Van Minh (LeHang Trinh); stepchildren Craig Befus and Michele Befus; grandchildren Steven, Loren, Elizabeth and Alexander Palmer; Shelby and Colby Freeman; Devanni (Nick) McMullin; and great-grandchildren Jaxon, Liam, and Phoenix McMullin. He is also survived by his brother David G. (Sue) Palmer and sister Susan (Chuck) Anderson. He was preceded in death by his brother Robert Palmer, Jr.

His family will receive friends from 3:30pm until 5:00pm on Thursday, April 10, 2025, at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home in Pearl. Celebration of Life Services will follow at 5:00pm.

In lieu of flowers the Palmer family requests memorials be made to the Gary Sinise Foundation to honor veterans at https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/, the Military Wallet for veterans at https://themilitarywallet.com/, or the Children's Hospital Colorado at https://www.childrenscolorado.org/.