CLIFFORD WILBERT "CLIFF" PALMER

1937 - 2011

Clifford "Cliff" Wilbert Palmer, 74, passed away on July 6, 2011, with his family by his side in Bellingham, WA.

Clifford was born on June 6, 1937, in Mount Vernon, WA, to parents Wilbert Palmer and Alice Herrle Palmer. Clifford grew up in Sedro-Woolley, WA and had one brother, Richard Palmer (deceased). He was part of the Sedro-Woolley High School graduating class of 1956, and looked forward to every class reunion. He missed his 55th by only two days.

He met and married the love of his life, Sue Lewellen, on November 13, 1972. They were best friends and married for 38 years, residing in Sedro-Woolley, WA. They had one son together, Chris, who Cliff considered his biggest achievement in life.

In the late 1950's, Cliff worked at Northern State Hospital as an LPN until going through the welding apprenticeship at Skagit Corp. Being the first person to complete the apprenticeship, he went on to work at several weld shops including NTI, Rinkies, Nordic Tugs, Western Gear, and Dakota Creek Ind., where he worked for 18 years before retiring in 1999.

Baseball was one of Cliff's biggest passions. He played during all 4 years in High School as a pitcher and bat boy for the Skagit Chiefs. Cliff tried out for the Seattle Pilots in the late 50's.

Fishing on the Skagit River was another one of Cliff's biggest passions. He also enjoyed lake fishing on Sheridan Lake in Canada, as well as on many local lakes and lakes in Eastern Washington. He was a member of the Wildcat Steelhead Club as well as the Burlington Eagles Club. Cliff and Sue hunted deer and elk together in both Western and Eastern Washington.

Cliff had many other hobbies beside fishing, before and after retirement, including camping, traveling, sci-fi movies, gardening, motorcycles, hunting, auto racing and baseball. He spent four years racing stock cars at Skagit Speedway, taking away such accolades as Rookie of the Year, Most Improved Driver, and Craftsmanship Trophy as well as awards for trophy dashes and main events. He also built boat trailers, utility trailers and wind mills, never settling for less than the highest quality his projects could be. During the last 8 or so years, he looked forward to the trips to Oklahoma each summer to visit with Sue's cousins.

Cliff is survived by his wife Sue of 38 years, as well as his children, including Chris Palmer (Bellingham, WA), daughter and son-in-law Cindy and Don Gerrior (Mount Vernon, WA), Penny Miller (Gilroy, CA), Jamie Ferguson (Marysville, WA) and Ben Nungesser (Anaheim, CA), as well has his aunt Elsie Palmer (Sedro-Woolley, WA). Cliff had six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; his brothers-in-law include Tom and Delores Lewellen (Lawton, OK), Jerry and Sherry Lewellen (Sedro-Woolley, WA), Ron Lewellen (Sedro-Woolley, WA) and Don Lewellen (Burlington, WA). He was also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Cliff was preceded in death by his parents Alice and Wilbert (Polly) Palmer, his brother Richard (Dick) Palmer, his mother and father-in-law Ruth and Harold Lewellen, as well as grandparents and aunts and uncles, including Mary and Bob Dean, Maynard Palmer, and Leif and Gus Beckman.

At Cliff's request, there will be no funeral, but instead a celebration of his life from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM on July 24, 2011 at Cascade Middle School, 201 N. Township, Sedro-Woolley.

Memorials can be made in Cliff's honor to the Wildcat Steelhead Club PO Box 435, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284, the Sedro-Woolley Schools Foundation PO Box 401, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284 or a charity of your choice.

Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley. Share memories of Cliff and sign the online guest register at www.lemleychapel.com