Robert Landon (Bob) Palmer

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Robert Landon (Bob) Palmer, 85, of Deerfield, passed away Friday, June 27, 2014, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin, Mo. He was born Aug. 13, 1928, in Moundville, the son of William Landon and Mary Caroline (Harris) Palmer. Early in his life, Bob along with family moved to Deerfield where he lived until May 2011, when his health required a move to the Moore-Few Care Center.

Bob attended Pleasant Ridge School, in Vernon County, and at the age of 17 enlisted in the United States Navy to serve our country. He was sent to Boot Camp in San Diego, Calif., for eight weeks and then spent two weeks on Terminal Island before transferring to Coronado Island for a short time. In June 1946 he boarded LST 1146, which sailed mainly up and down the west coast and to Adah, Kodiac Attic and Dutch Harbor, in Alaska, until Dec. 13, 1947. A year later, on Dec. 17, 1948, he re-enlisted, then subsequently boarded APA 20 Dec. 28, 1948. He spent time at Pearl Harbor before returning as his ship was decommissioned at Mare Island on June 29, 1949.

In 1951, his service included the Korean Conflict and he was honorably discharged on Oct. 30, 1952. His duties had included being in charge of ammunition supplies as well as ordinance work to ready the bombs and rockets, was gunner's mate striker of LST 1146 landing ship tank, deck hand on APA transport ship, and work on pistol and skeet ranges. He was recipient of the World War II Victory Ribbon; Good Conduct Ribbon; Korean Ribbon; United Nations Ribbon; and China Service Ribbon.

After the conclusion of his military service he returned to the farm in Deerfield and farmed with his parents until their deaths. He was very successful due to the many dedicated hours spent. He raised cattle, harvested hay, pecans, and other crops. He was content to go to the timber with his dog to mow, clean up brush, cut trees, and often spoke about the days when his pecan grove resembled a well-kept golf course. He enjoyed attending livestock and machinery sales and always liked to spend time fishing, boating, and water skiing. He also always enjoyed a "good truck to drive". He commented that he did "what he enjoyed doing, with no regrets". The family farm was sold on April 20, 2012.

He was especially fond of his seven nieces and three nephews and their families. Most of them spent some time at the family farm each summer and had many stories to tell about their visits. They continued to visit him at Moore-Few whenever possible.

Survivors include two sisters, Lois Cox of Branson, and Joan Loos of Tucson, Ariz.; nieces and nephews, Edward Cox of Fort Scott, Kan., Bill Cox of College Station, Texas, Kay Afshar of Branson, Kathy Likes of Arvada, Colo., Mary Lynn Boucard of Tucson, Ariz., Sherrill Hilldebrand of Leesburg, Va., Lana Haeffner of St. Peters, and Steven Thornton of Cashton, Wis.; also of special mention, a cousin, Marlene McCarter, of Nevada, who assisted with his care for the past several years; and other relatives and friends.

Graveside services with military honors for Robert Landon Palmer are scheduled for 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, July 2, at the Deerfield Cemetery, in Deerfield. Friends may call until the hour of service at Ferry Funeral Home.

View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.