In loving memory, Cara Palmer was born in Sacramento, CA to mother Mildred Elizabeth Palmer and to father Theodore Bernard Palmer. She lived her childhood years in Sacramento where she attended the Waldorf School from kindergarten through 3rd grade. She attended Brookfield School from 4th grade through 8th grade. During these childhood years, she loved athletic activities including swimming, running, hiking and horseback-riding. Summer vacation time was often spent at a summer camp, where she eventually became a camp counselor responsible for new, younger campers. Even with all this activity, she found time to take piano lessons for several years.

Cara attended C.K. McClatchy High School from 1978 to 1982. She participated in numerous school activities. Her motto was "There is so much to do and so little time to do it all!" While being an officer in the Science Club, Math Club, and French Club, Cara also participated on the school's Speech & Debate Team. She also achieved high grades which qualified her to be a member of the CSF (CA Scholarship Federation), as well as being listed in Who's Who Among High School Students. During her junior year, she even made time to become involved in the school's Student Government as class secretary and as member of the election committee.

Between high school years, Cara's interests focused on painting, sketching, and drawing, as well as teaching gymnastics, horseback riding, and Nature Appreciation at the same Summer Camp from her younger years. She also became focused on pursuing other interests in college, where she planned to major in Foreign Relations and/or Journalism.

Cara attended Wellesley College on the East Coast and majored in International Relations and Anthropology. She graduated in 1986 with degrees in both. After working several years as a research assistant for various teachers, professors, and graduate students at nearby universities in the Boston area, she did part-time work for various temporary agencies and become involved in local political causes and issues.

All of this post-graduate activity had a profound negative effect on her mental and physical health, so she returned to Sacramento, CA in 1993. For many years, Cara worked as an audio transcriptionist, via telephone, using her voice to record short audio books and instruction manuals. She was, in effect, teleworking. Also, she found enjoyment from creating artistic sculptures and with working on ceramic art projects. After 32 years of chronic illness, in spite of the beneficial climate of California, Cara passed away peacefully at UC Davis Medical Center. She was 61 years old.

Cara is survived by her brother Clay and his wife Jocelyn; her cousins Celia Maurice, Julia Maurice, Ruth Beard, and Ruth's husband Dave; second cousins Emma, Decca, Joachim, Charlotte, and Max.

Cara was preceded in death by her parents Mildred (Milli) and Theodore (Ted); Clay's & Jocelyn's 6-week-old in-utero daughter Allison, Narry Apolinario (Jocelyn's Father), Cara's Aunt Carlotta Maurice & Uncle David Maurice, and her grand-parents Mary & Jack Palmer.

There will be two Celebrations of Life Memorial Services:

The first is a private family service on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at the Camino del Sol Funeral & Memorial Center at 200 North C Street, Oxnard, CA 93030.

The second Celebration of Life Memorial Service is tentatively scheduled for early December 2025 at East Lawn Cemetery on Folsom Blvd in Sacramento, CA. Exact Date: "TBD"

Cara's final resting place will be at East Lawn Cemetery on Folsom Blvd, Sacramento, CA.

This location is very close to the hospital where she was born, 61 years ago.

Contact Information, regarding scheduling of the Sacramento, CA Celebration of Cara's Life:

Clay Palmer (brother):

[email protected].

805-444-1384 (mobile#).

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Sacramento Bee from Sep. 24 to Sep. 25, 2025.