Yvette Palmer

Yvette M. Palmer Yvette M. Palmer, 71, of Emmaus, Pa., passed away, following a long battle with lymphoma, in her home surrounded with family on Friday evening, December 2, 2011. She is survived by her husband, William E. Palmer, sisters Helen Tobin of White Salmon, Wash., and Shirley Broyles of Fort Mill, S.C., her daughter, Kimberly Johnston-Pyne of Emmaus, and son William L. Harris of Concord, N.H. Also there are grandchildren Mitchell Harris of Boston, Mass., and Amber Harris of Concord, N.H. along with Bryandon Johnston and Arista Pyne of Emmaus, Pa., Kathi Calandra of Bethlehem, Pa., and Thomas Johnston of Allentown, Pa. Yvette was the loving stepmother for Erica Mitchell of Shelburne, Vt., Carl Hausler, Jr of Vt., Wendy Hausler of Jacksonville, Fla., Mark Hausler of Maine, Ethan Hausler of Little River, S.C., David Palmer of Perkasie, Pa., and Richard Palmer of Mercerville, N.J. The motto of Rotary International is "Service Above Self." Yvette believed passionately in service and dedicated her life to helping others. As a Rotarian for over 20 years, Yvette held leadership roles of all kinds, chaired major fund-raising campaigns, and taught others by example and word how they could be of service. Beyond Rotary, Yvette served on the leadership boards of many area organizations: Lehigh Carbon Community College, Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, Kutztown University, Allentown Economic Development Commission, LEAP, United Way, and Phoebe Ministries. Her peers honored Yvette with the Community Partnership Award in 1995 for her leadership in economic development. In 1999, she was awarded the Lehigh County Athena Award, which was followed by a Spotlight Award from the East Penn Business Journal. Both of these honors were in recognition of her leadership and service to the community. In 2010, The Ben Franklin Technology Partners awarded her the Entrepreneurial Advocate Award. Yvette was a summa cum laude graduate of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, and received an MBA from Southern New Hampshire College. She was also a Certified Management Accountant. The family suggests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Miller-Keystone Blood Center, 1465 Valley Center Pkwy, Bethlehem, PA 18017 or to The Rotary International Foundation Annual Programs Fund. FUNERAL NOTICE: Services at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Bachman, Kulik & Reinsmith Funeral Home, 17th and Hamilton Streets, Allentown. Family and friends may call 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday and 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tuesday in the funeral home.