Born in Shawnee, Oklahoma on March 15th, 1951, Jimmy Palmer began a life of many, many different directions. In spite of health issues, he was a starter on the Wanette High School Basketball and Baseball teams and lettered in both sports. He developed a love of cooking into numerous professional positions and earned a substantial reputation as a short order cook in Oklahoma City. It was not uncommon for him to be approached on the street by previous customers who would make the comment "I used to love to watch you cook!"
Jimmy also had a love of vehicles, he didn't care what it looked like, he wanted to drive it. From stealing the school buses out of the bus barn in Wanette, maneuvering an 18 wheeler, or cruising through the mountains of Arkansas, Jimmy loved to drive! His professional driving career took him from the most rural communities of Oklahoma to the most prestigious communities in Oklahoma City. He hauled everything from diamond drill bits to dry cleaning.
In his personal life, he wore many hats: husband, father, grandfather or "Boompaw", brother, uncle, music lover and gourmet cook. He loved professional wrestling and
was an avid supporter of both state college football teams, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and of course his beloved Dallas Cowboys.
But the thing Jimmy was known for most, was his jokes, he always had one, or two, or three. You never saw him that at some point he wouldn't say, "Did you hear the one about…" and then bless you with his newest one. Jimmy loved to laugh. He laughed easily and he laughed hard. He wanted to make others laugh too.
Jimmy loved hard too. Once he met someone, he considered them a friend, and if you were around for very long, he considered you family, and Jimmy LOVED his family. He loved his wife, Jami, for over 31 years. Their two sons, Joe and Jeremy were held to high standards in life because he held them so dearly in his heart. When Joe married, Kim, Jimmy not only gained a daughter, but grandsons Tanner and Landon and combined with Joe's son Alex, gave Jimmy 3 grandsons. You never met a more devoted "Boompaw". Jeremy's partner Joe Walker was an instant friend not only because they shared Jeremy, but professional driving as well.
Jimmy's sister, Sylvia Petrey and her husband Wendell, are the foundation of his extended family. Their children Tara Carpenter and her husband Tym, their children Madison, Grace, and Elijah along with Amanda Petrey and partner Jeff Dillon, and Samantha Petrey and her partner Chris Curnutt were the center of many family events. Pay per view wrestling was a favorite! In later years, Jill and Ray McElhaney and their sons Bennett and Grayson joined the family and became dear to Jimmy as well. Jimmy's cousin, Angela Lewis held a special place in his heart, along with her partner Jeffe Hille and her sons Brady and Mason Haynes. Jimmy also had a Sister-in-Law, Karen Stowe and her husband Gary, Mother-in-Law Edna Reid; 2 half brothers: Mike Palmer and his family of Ada, Oklahoma, Roger Palmer and his family of Seminole, Oklahoma, and one half sister: Vicki Bishop and her family of McPherson, Kansas. He is preceded in death by his grandparents Pastor Henry Clay and Mittie Booth, his mother Amanda Palmer, and his brother Eddie Palmer.
Jimmy went through life as if he was afraid to miss a minute of it. He believed in God and Country, and his beloved family, no matter what. The next time you hear someone say "Did you hear the one about…" think of him. It will make you smile and that's what Jimmy wanted.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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