Barbara Lee Palmer

Barbara (Barb) Lee Froehlich Palmer peacefully passed away on Monday, February 24, 2025, at Salem Hospital, just two days shy of her 80th birthday. Born on February 26, 1945, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to John Joseph Froehlich and Dorothy Jane Craig, Barb was the oldest of three children in the Froehlich family.

Growing up in Pittsburgh, Barb was an avid Steelers fan. She also developed a love for music. The family often gathered to sing together at home while cleaning or cooking and during road trips. Barb also took up playing the accordion, further cultivating her musical talents. As a young girl with thick, long blonde hair (down to her waist), she began suffering from frequent headaches. Her mom took her to their doctor who advised cutting her hair as he felt the weight of it was the cause. Though it was a difficult decision, her mom got it cut and discovered that by doing so, it helped resolve the problem. A voracious reader, Barb could often be found lost in a book especially when it was time to clean her bedroom so she would “hire” Maribeth to do it for her.

Barb graduated from Perry High School (Class of 1963), where she prepared for college and was awarded a scholarship through Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). She then pursued her studies at the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) in Oakland, Pennsylvania, initially aiming to become a pediatrician. During her time at Pitt, she worked part-time at Children's Hospital also in Oakland, close to the university. There she developed a close bond with a young girl battling cancer. Tragically, the child passed away, which profoundly affected Barb and led her to shift her focus toward becoming a Medical Technician. She felt this new path would allow her to support children behind the scenes while avoiding the emotional attachment she had experienced. She graduated in 1967 with a Bachelor's degree and began her career as a Medical Technician, making a significant impact on the lives of her patients with her expertise and compassionate care. Barb was the first member of her immediate family to receive a college degree. She worked at Salem Clinic and then West Salem Clinic for over 20 years.

Additionally, Barb's professional journey led her to Saudi Arabia where she worked for three years at a hospital on an American complex. It was during this time that she made friends who reintroduced her to the gospel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). She had taken the discussions with Maribeth 13 years prior, but did not convert at that time. In 1985, she decided to be baptized and became a devoted member of the Church for the remainder of her life. Upon returning home to the USA, she brought back unique gifts, including children's-sized Thawb and abaya clothing for her nieces and nephews. She also shared her experiences from her time in Saudi Arabia by presenting to their elementary school classes, captivating them with fascinating stories from her travels.

In Oregon, Barb met Gary Palmer at a church dance. They married on December 11, 1987, in the LDS Temple in Seattle, Washington, and soon made their home in Salem, Oregon, where they would live for the rest of their lives. Just one week shy of 37 years of marriage, Gary passed away in December 2023. Barb frequently expressed gratitude to Gary’s four daughters for their acceptance of her as a “second mother”. She cherished their visits to the Oregon Coast where she and Gary celebrated many anniversaries. Over the years, Barb became a beloved grandmother to Gary’s thirteen grandchildren and two great- grandchildren. She loved holding them, serving them, and even shared a birthday with one of the granddaughters. Barb’s affection for them extended to calling them her “tadpoles”, a nod to her love for frogs.

Barb was an avid knitter, creating countless items as thoughtful gifts for family and friends, including scarves, children's clothing, and toys. She also had a special fondness for frogs, which began when she had a memorable biology class experience. During one of her labs, the class members were each to dissect a frog. While she was dissecting her frog, hitting a nerve caused the frog to jump unexpectedly, startling her and sending the class into laughter. From that point on, Barb became the proud owner of an impressive figurine frog collection that she treasured and displayed for others to see. For any occasion, you could count on her receiving at least one new item to add to the collection!

At a young age, Barb learned the value of serving others through examples of her parents and grandparents. Thus, Barb served in the church in a variety of capacities, including as a Sunday School teacher and Achievement Days Leader.

Barb is survived by her siblings, John Froehlich (Debbie) and Maribeth Forrey (Steve), as well as her nieces and nephews; Stephen Forrey, Jr. (Leanne), Rebecca Forrey-Roofener (Jim), Sarah Forrey-Pettit (Sam), Jacob Forrey (Beth), and her stepdaughters: Shari Palmer, Pamela Stoddard (Chell), Julie Gibb (Spencer), and Jennifer Christie (Ryan) and 13 step-grandchildren and 2 step-great-grandchildren.

A private family memorial service will be held to honor Barb's life. She will be laid to rest with her husband at the Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon. In her memory, donations to St. Jude's Hospital are welcome.