Donald Ray Palmer: Obituary

Donald Ray Palmer

June 6, 1955 – June 3, 2019

Mr. Donald Ray Palmer, age 63 of Murphy, passed away Monday, June 3, 2019 at the Mission Hospital in Asheville. Mr. Palmer was born June 6, 1955 in Murphy, NC to the late Lewis Palmer and the late Alice Jane Dockery Palmer. Donald attended First Freewill Baptist Church in Hayesville, he was a member of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Tribe and he was the owner/operator of Palmer Monument and Construction. He was a very hard working man and enjoyed his work, he also loved spending time with his family.

Survivors include loving wife, Tracy Radford Palmer, three sons, Darren (Shannon) Palmer, Shannon (Becky) Palmer, and Gabriel Palmer, one daughter, Alyson Palmer of the home, sister, Nancy (Terry) Stroud, brother, Tommy (Frances) Palmer, six grandchildren, Natalee, Cruz, Payton, Isaiah, Caleb and Emma, two great-grandchildren, Nora and Roman, and his best little buddy, Mason Radford. Also several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Friday, June 7, 2019 at 3:00 pm at the Cochran Funeral Home with Rev. Chris Rumfelt officiating. Music provided by Cruz Palmer and Chris Rumfelt and the Rumfelt Family Singers. Interment will follow in the Sunset Memorial Cemetery. Pallbearers include Ben McNabb, Billy McNabb, William Abernathy, Matthew Kelley, Steve Smith, Barry Anderson, Brent McNabb, and Evan McNabb. Honorary Pallbearers are Jeff Gooch, Todd Hicks, Jonathan Wells, Hubert Wells, Brian Wells, Bill Dahdah, Vinson Sims, and Mark Gacchina.

The family will receive friends at the Cochran Funeral Home of Murphy on Friday, June 7, 2019 from 1-3 pm. You may send flowers or you can choose to make a donation in Donald’s name to the First Freewill Baptist Church (http://hayesvillefreewill.org/online-giving/).

Arrangements entrusted to the Cochran Funeral Home of Murphy, NC. You may send condolences to the family and sign the guest register at www.cochranfuneralhomes.com.