Mary Palmer, 77, of Malvern, Iowa, passed away Thursday, May 4, 2023. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 12, 2023, at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church in Glenwood, Iowa. Visitation at the church will be held prior to the service, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in the Carson, Iowa, Cemetery. Family will direct memorials. Loess Hills Funeral Home in Glenwood is caring for Mary and her family.

Mary Ellen (George) Palmer passed away after a short illness on Thursday, May 4, at Bergan Mercy Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, surrounded by her family.

Mary Ellen George, one of seven children of Leonard Jacob and Kathryn Lucille (Pitts) George, was born on August 18, 1945, in Aurelia, Iowa. She received her education from Storm Lake St. Mary’s, graduating with the Class of 1963. Shortly after graduation she moved to Omaha where she started her career in dental assisting. On July 1, 1972, she married Douglas Dean Palmer at St. James Catholic Church in Omaha. The couple was blessed with two children, Jennifer and Daniel.

After a short detour to Kansas City, Missouri, Mary and Doug owned and operated The Parts Place (NAPA Auto Parts) along with a Radio Shack in Rock Port, Missouri. After 16 years, the business was sold. Mary eventually went back to work at the Shenandoah Family Dentistry for over 12 years.

Mary loved to go shopping and being on the go. She enjoyed painting and cooking, but most of all spending time with family and friends. Some of her favorite activities included her Monday morning coffee group and Wednesday morning book study. She loved being a grandma to her loving grandkids.

Mary was a member of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church in Glenwood and Catholic Daughters.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Fr. Dale George and Richard George and his wife, Shirley; and sisters, Marilyn Naughton and Janice Johnson and her husband, Charlie.

Mary is survived by her husband of 50 years, Doug Palmer of Malvern; daughter, Jennifer Turgeon of Rancho Santa Margarita, California, and her children, Layton and Elena; son, Daniel Palmer and his fiancée, Kristen Marten of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and their children, Charlee, Harper, Brooke, Drew, and Nolan; sisters, Judy Murrell and her husband, Mike, of Chillicothe, Missouri, Rosie Vonnahme and her husband Mark of LeMars, Iowa; brother-in-law, Al Naughton of Carroll, Iowa; and a host of nieces, nephews and many special friends.