June Margaret Palmer

June Margaret Pierson Palmer, formerly of Chester, MD, died on May 20, 2015, at Brandywine Assisted Living at Fenwick, Selbyville, DE. She was 93. Mrs. Palmer was born on August 11, 1921, in Grasonville, MD, to the late Carroll C. Pierson and Mabel L. Straughn Pierson. She was born at home on the very day her family moved into their house in Grasonville. She attended Stevensville High School and graduated Class of 1938. Following graduation, she began working locally as a waitress until moving to Baltimore and working in Montgomery Wards Catalog Department. During WWII, Mrs. Palmer worked on the assembly line at Bendix, inspecting part production. She then worked at Fort Meade, interviewing soldiers and filling out their discharge papers. She often shared the memory of celebrating D-Day in the streets of downtown Baltimore. On September 21, 1946, she married Arnold A. Palmer and resided in Grasonville. In 1953 they built their home in Benton’s Pleasure, Chester, near a very large sycamore tree. Later, she began working as a bookkeeper at Tidewater Bank and then for the Anne Arundel County Health Department, retiring in 1981. Mrs. Palmer was affectionately known to many as “Mimi,” a role she cherished as mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, a name that quickly expanded to other family and friends. She was a woman of strong faith and a member of the Kent Island United Methodist Church, Esther Circle, Chester Homemakers, Queen Anne’s County Council of Homemakers, Queen Anne’s County Quilting Guild, Kent Island Quilters and the Kent Island Heritage Society. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 1976, she later volunteered for the American Cancer Society at the Shore Regional Cancer Center, Easton, MD, and for many years participated as a survivor at the Society’s Relay For Life. She was an excellent seamstress who enjoyed quilting, sewing, cooking, birdwatching, and spending time with friends, especially the “Breakfast Girls.” Many parties and family reunions were held under the Sycamore Shade. But, there was no greater enjoyment than when she was sharing love with her granddaughters, great-grandchildren, and her family. She is survived by one daughter, Alva Palmer Hutchison and her husband, Bob of Dagsboro DE; a very special sister, P. Colleen Coursey of Chester; one brother, Wm. Rodney Pierson of Princess Anne; two granddaughters, Dina Hutchison Clark (Vince) of Centreville and Stacey Hutchison White (Brian) of Dagsboro; and five very precious great-grandchildren, Vincent M. Clark, Jr., Joshua Palmer Clark, and Austin James Clark of Centreville, Erin Ashley White and Cassidy Alexa White of Dagsboro; and loved nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, Arnold Palmer, three brothers, Elmer S. Pierson, Clifton “Bootsie” Pierson, and Alton C. Pierson predeceased her. Friends and family may visit from 10-11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26, 2015, at the Kent Island United Methodist Church in Chester, MD, where services will start at 11 a.m. Fellowship will immediately follow and burial will be at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Easton at 2:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her memory to The American Cancer Society, 1315 Mt. Hermon Road, Suite D, Salisbury, MD 21804, Stevensville High School Alumni Scholarship Fund, ℅ Jannice Edwards, Alumni Treasurer, P.O. Box 784, Centreville, MD, or a charity of your choice.

June Margaret Palmer

August 11, 1921 - May 20, 2015