Shirley Ann Palmer's Obituary
Shirley Ann Callen was born on October 30th, 1951 to Joyce Lorraine Callen and Donald Lloyd Callen prematurely. Doctors had initially worked to save the mother who was experiencing toxemia at the time before turning their attention to the baby. This would be the first of many struggles in the child's life. Shirley had congenital heart defects as well as inherited heart defects. She also had scoliosis, a weakened immune system, and more allergies than anyone could imagine. Shirley was just the first of four children. Jerry, Richard, and Beverly soon followed.
Shirley was always the smallest of the tribe, but that never stopped her. She had a strong spirit. She had accepted Christ as her Savior at Camp when she was 11 years old and had faithfully followed Him from the first step, no matter what.
Shirley graduated from Sparta High School in 1969 and had kept in contact with her two closest friends, Sharon and Kathy, for the rest of her life. She married her father's best friend, Melvin Orland Palmer, on July 13th, 1974 after more than a year of courting. She gained a son, Robert Edward Palmer, on the same day from Mel's first marriage. They welcomed their daughter, Angela Marie Palmer, into the family on September 22, 1983. This was a one-in-a-million chance, according to the doctors. They welcomed their first two grandchildren within the next three years.
Shirley had survived two open-heart surgeries by the time she was 34. The doctors had told her she would not live to see fifty, but she was always a fighter. She knew that God had a purpose for her, even if it was to be an enigma to the doctors. But, it was more than that. It was to spread love, joy, and comfort to the people in her life.
Shirley had spent years serving the Lord at many different churches throughout her life, including children's church, Sunday school, church secretary, and more. And she was an inspiration to many.
Shirley was preceded in death by her brother-in-law, Aaron Miller, her brother-in-law, Robert D. Palmer, her parents, her husband, several aunts and uncles, sister-in-law, Wilma Miller, and her sister Beverly. She had suffered a stroke on Sunday, December 1 and had declined rapidly, despite being given the best care by the staff of Greenville Hospital, Blodgett Hospital, and finally Butterworth Hospital. She had died after her daughter, Angela, made the decision to remove the ventilator tube and let her join their loved ones in Heaven on December 8, 2024. She entered Heaven's Gates at 12:01 PM while her body was surrounded by people she loved. Shirley is survived by her brothers, Jerry Callen (and wife Rita Callen) and Richard Callen (and wife Donna Callen), brother-in-law Russell Norvell, sister-in-law, Linda Palmer, an uncle, several cousins, many nieces and nephews, stepson Robert E. Palmer, grand daughter Krista Palmer, Grandsons Robert O. Palmer, Aaron A. Palmer, Noah N. Palmer, daughter, Angela Palmer, and so many more who loved her.
Her final desires were about trusting God and giving Him control over the situation. May we all be as strong as this.
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