Gary Lee Palmer

1951 - 2024

Gary Lee Palmer

March 3, 1951 - June 11, 2024

Meridian, Idaho - Gary Lee Palmer of Meridian passed away at home surrounded by loving family after a long hard fight with liver cancer on June 11, 2024. Born in Nampa's old Mercy Hospital on March 3, 1951, he was the middle son born to Glenn Elton and Wanda Palmer. He grew up in the Grandview, Bruneau and Mountain Home areas, moving to Nampa and Parma for his high school years.

He met and married his soulmate, Margaret Avelsgaard on March 28, 1968. From this union 2 sons, William and Thomas were born. Family was everything to him. He was a hard worker and instilled this trait of hard work and dedication in his boys, that was the payoff for a good life. He taught his grandson many projects since he was a teenager. He enjoyed traveling and sight seeing with his wife. He had many hobbies, woodworking, camping, hunting, fishing, and working on cars. He was in the process of restoring a 1948 Chevrolet, when he fell ill. He also took great pride in his beautiful yard work to keep it up. He spent endless hours with his buddy Rudy when working in the field.

He had a great business mind where he owned and ran Boise Foreign Car Service for over 30 years. He sold the business to his younger son Tom in 2017.

He loved holidays and family get togethers. Taking the boat out and fishing with his boys and grandson. He was a simple man with simple pleasures. He decided to buy a motorcycle in later life and he and Margaret would ride in the countryside, taking longer trips to Nevada to visit family and contribute a little to their economy. They towed the motorcycle with the motor home using it as transportation to sight see the Oregon Coast.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Glenn and Wanda, stepmom Karla and younger brother Patric.

Gary Is survived in death by his wife of 56 years, Margaret and son William (Nancy Trube) of Nampa, granddaughter Kiera and great granddaughter Oakley; son Thomas (Tammy) of Boise Grandson Justin, granddaughter Heather great grandchildren, Karmen, Kellan, grandson Jeff (Melissa and 3 girls; brother Dennis of Boise, two sisters in law, Randi Wasikowski of Fernley, NV and Cheryl Fritz of Mountain Home, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins and friends.

He will be truly missed by family and friends and customers through his years of running the shop. He was known as kind, generous, honest and confident.

We would like to thank the Horizon Hospice for their loving care and concerns during Gary's final days.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM Saturday, June 22, 2024, at the Nampa Funeral Home, Yraguen Chapel. Burial will follow at the Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. An online guest book and full obituary is available at www.nampafuneralhome.com