BENNIE LEE HENSLEY PALMER

BENNIE LEE HENSLEY PALMER Devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and respected produce industry veteran Bennie Lee Hensley Palmer, a resident of Alamo Country Club, died peacefully surrounded by family and friends following a brief illness on February 2, 2013, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital. Born October 21, 1925, in Amity, AR, to Oscar and Willie Lee Hensley, she grew up near Texarkana, AR, and came to the Valley in 1954 as a civilian employee with the U.S. Air Force to help in the reactivation of Moore Air Base. Soon after, she met and married the love of her life, J. Forrest Palmer of San Juan, and for almost 50 years until his death in 2003, worked with him to raise four children, farm and, among other things, build J.F. Palmer & Sons Produce and its well-known "Mister P" onion brand. Preceded in death by her beloved grandson Brian Palmer, she's survived by her daughter Jane Alexander, of Barrington, IL, sons Dan, of Palm Springs, CA, Gary (Gina) and Mike (Stefani) of McAllen; grandchildren Lucas (Tyler) Alexander, Kevin (Kelli) Palmer, Clara and Billy (Alyssa) Garza, Cameryn Winn, and Stephan, Erin and Sean Palmer; great-grandchildren Jackson Alexander, Kearstin, Gavin and Mason Palmer, William Garza, Jr., and Dustin and Charli Palmer; and a host of loving nieces, nephews, friends and business associates across the U.S. and Mexico. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m., Tuesday, February 5, at Kreidler Funeral Home in McAllen. Sign the guest book at www.themonitor.com/obituaries