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OLEN "RAY" PALMER
July 6, 1927 ~ October 31, 2017
Born in Broken Bow, OK on July 6th, 1927, to John William Palmer and Mazilla Emily Bean Palmer, Ray was the youngest of seven children. He quietly passed away on Oct. 31st, 2017. Ray came to Vancouver, WA at the young age of 16 with his mother and 3 older brothers. He immediately went to work alongside his brother, Vernon, at the shipyards in Vancouver.
In 1945, Ray enlisted in the Army, serving his time in Korea. Following his discharge, Ray went to work for Crown Zellerbach in Camas, until the Bag Factory closed down in 1980, then for Port Townsend Paper, in NW Portland before finally retiring in 1991.
Ray was the consummate Portland Trailblazer fan, having been a season ticket holder for 15 years. He was thrilled to have been in attendance when Portland won the NBA Championship in 1977, and has followed them since.
After retiring, Ray spent time with his family and friends, enjoying his time with his "cronies" from Camas and his many friends from church.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth in 1997. Ray is survived by his former wife, Patricia Long; two step-children, Ron Arnold (wife, Linda) and Kathy (husband, Dave) Butler; his two children, Don Palmer (wife, Gail), and Debbi Kor; 4 grandsons: David Bryson, Cody and Justin Palmer, and Brian Kor; and 3 great-grandsons: Kade and Reece Palmer and Elijah Kor.
A Celebration of Life will be held Fri., Nov. 10th, 2017 at the Living Word Fellowship, 5621 NE 78th St., Vancouver, at 1:00 p.m. Please join us to celebrate our father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and wonderful friend.
Remembrances to the Ray Hickey House in Vancouver may be made in his name.
Please sign his guest book at: www.columbian.com/obits.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
3 Entries
I worked with Ray in the Bag Factory...what a sweet guy! God Bless him and give him eternal peace!
Dave Stout
November 17, 2017
Olen Palmer was my uncle and I loved him very much. I didn't get to see him very often but my husband and I did stop and see him a couple of years ago when we went to Washington State. I'm so glad I got to see him again. Rest in Peace, Uncle Olen, I know you are in the arms of God.
Opal Husted
Family
November 7, 2017
Ray was such a special person, friend and a wonderful companion to our Mother, Bonnie Blomdahl and our family for many years. We all cherish the times we enjoyed together. I know my Mother especially looked forward to each morning they got together to read the paper, and enjoy cookies and coffee. Ray will be missed greatly, and we were fortunate to have him as part of our family for so many years. We all know he is rejoicing in the Lord that he is now at rest in the arms of our Lord, and we have peace in that. To Deb and Don, our thoughts and prayers are with you and all of your family. Love, Kevin & Stacie Blomdahl and family
Kevin Blomdahl
November 5, 2017
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Funeral services provided by:
Evergreen Memorial Gardens Funeral Chapel1101 NE 112th Avenue, Vancouver, WA 98684
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