Earl DeWayne Palmer

Earl Palmer, 87, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 18, 2025.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, May 22nd from 5-7pm at Waco Memorial Funeral Home Chapel.

Services will be held on Friday, May 23 at 10am at Waco Memorial Funeral Home.

Earl was born August 11, 1937, in Mt. Vernon, TX to Barney and Elsie (Baugh) Palmer. The family eventually moved to the Dallas area where Earl graduated from Adamson High School in 1954. Earl began working at a young age and he dedicated some of his money to helping his mother care for his 6 younger siblings, especially his youngest brother to whom he was "like a father". While in high school, Earl took advantage of an early work program in which he learned about and began apprenticing in the printing business with a local company in Dallas. He did so well that he became a supervisor at the age of 21 and continued to climb the ladder into management. He went on to have a career in the printing industry which spanned 50 years.

Earl loved to bowl, which he also did for 50 years both on bowling leagues, as well as several years with a semi-pro traveling league at which time he and his wife would sneak in a little casino gambling.

Earl served his community for many years by teaching Sunday School classes, and by coaching Boys Baseball for 15 years, including coaching his own sons. He enjoyed going to the deer lease with friends and learning to play golf in retirement, as well as riding his tractor/mower. He became proficient in creating decorative hardwood puzzles which are hanging on many family members' walls.

His most favorite past time, besides his children and grandchildren, was watching ANY sport on TV. His favorites were football and baseball. His most beloved teams being the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers.

He married the love of his life, Patricia Taylor, on June 6, 1958. He was a dedicated family man and he and his wife were blessed with 4 sons, 16 grandchildren, and 22 great grandchildren. The whole family enjoyed many holidays all together, especially at Christmas time when there would be a sea of presents from Meme and Papa.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Carolyn Birdwell, and one granddaughter, Stephanie Palmer.

Earl leaves a wonderful legacy with his 4 sons, Paul (Shawn) Palmer, Gregory (Kim) Palmer, Michael (Wendy) Palmer, and Darrel (Christi) Palmer; siblings Sylvia Cornish, Ruth Batista (Robert), Randall Palmer (Jaylyne), Ronnie Palmer, and Kenneth Palmer (Betty);15 grandchildren, and 22 great grandchildren. He also leaves behind many cherished nieces and nephews and special family friends he felt were an extension of his family.