Mary H. Palmer

Mary Palmer, born Maria Elena Flores on July 10, 1934, to Alejandro and Teofila Navarro Flores in Santa Ana, California. She passed away at the age of 89 after a long battle with dementia on October 9, 2023, in Corona, California.

Maria Elena was raised in Garden Grove, California in the barrio of La Bonita. After graduating from Garden Grove High School, she enlisted in the Navy with her two best friends Lucy Queja & Marion Marimoto. Mary served during the Korean war as a SK3 Stock Clerk at US NAS Jacksonville, Florida. She assisted with ordering of food and supplies for the outgoing Naval ships.

While in the Navy she met the love of her life, Bill Palmer of Fairbanks, Alaska. He was stationed in San Diego but was in Jacksonville training to be a Radioman. They married on August 31, 1953, and returned to Garden Grove, CA to raise their five children - Suzan, Richard, Edward, Christina and William jr.

Mary had two jobs that she truly loved. The first was being a mail carrier in Garden Grove. She loved the walking and social aspect of the job. But not so much the dog bites! Her second love was selling Tupperware which she did for 25 years. This earned her the name, “Grandma Tupper”. Selling Tupperware gave her the freedom to fulfill her passion for Volunteering, which started with the PTA at John A. Murdy Elementary School in Garden Grove, CA. In 1982 they moved to Reno Nevada with their youngest son, Billy where they spent time with Suzan and her family. In 2011, they returned to California for their golden years.

Mary volunteered for most of her life in California and Nevada. With the Girl Scouts & Boy Scouts, Red Cross, Senior Centers, VFW, and Reno VA Hospital. At Brookdale Crown Point Senior Residence in CA, she loved singing in the “traveling” choir and assisting with community activities, along with managing Brookdale’s Veteran’s Alcove & memorabilia. In 1995 she was nominated and invited to attend Philmont Scout Ranch. At the Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico, she attended Den Leader training to fine tune her Scout Leadership skills.

Mary loved dancing, painting, sewing, knitting, crocheting, reading books, and going to the movies. She would always say, “I hate chocolate” as she willingly munched on a yummy piece of See’s candy. Which was always, you got it, a piece of chocolate! She enjoyed spending as much time as possible with her grandchildren which kept her traveling between Neveda, California, Utah and Pennsylvania.

Mary is preceded in death by her loving husband William Scott Palmer Sr.; her brothers Alex, Jr. and Manuel Flores both of California.

She is survived by her sister Angie Chiarle of TN

Her five children - Suzan (& Gilbert) Rivas; Richard Palmer; Ed (& Robin) Palmer; Tina (& Lee) Beaudoin; William (& Karin) Palmer, Jr.

Her Fourteen grandchildren - Geoffrey (& Danielle) Rivas; Stephen Rivas; Andrew Rivas; Jeremy (& Crystal) Palmer; Kyle (& Erin) Palmer; Adam (& Allie) Palmer; Sean Spencer; Jenny (& Tim) Fahrner; Kaleigh Spencer; Kristin (& Andrew) Harvey; Michael (& Suzanne) Beaudoin; Lisa Beaudoin; Salem Palmer, and William Scott Palmer, III.

Her Fifteen Great-Grandchildren- Graciela & Cipriana Rivas; Aurora & Adelice Palmer; Wyatt Palmer, Madison & Brianna Dawson, Tanner & Peyton Chaney; Hunter & Remington Spencer; Adam Schaeffer, Miles & Blake Fahrner; and Leo Beaudoin.

Mary will be placed to rest in a “family vault” with our dad, William Scott Palmer, at Riverside National Cemetery, CA in Columbarium C, Section: CG, Gravesite: C25.

Military Funeral Honors will be held:

Monday, November 27, 2023, at 11:00 AM

At Riverside National Cemetery

22495 Van Buren Blvd.

Riverside, CA 92518

A Celebration of Life will follow at

Sycamore Creek Clubhouse

25420 Mayhew Canyon Rd

Corona, CA 92883