Jean Lorraine Palmer

Jean Lorraine McMillan Palmer was born March 28, 1919 in Blackfoot, Idaho, to Ethel Alice Pratt McMillan and F. Willard McMillan. She was the middle child born to them. Harold LaVar McMillan was born a year previous to her and later she had a younger brother, Howard Vernon McMillan. The family lived in the Lower Presto Valley until about 1924, when they moved to an eighty acre farm at Goshen, Idaho, a community with an LDS Church, a school house that schooled students from the first grade to when they graduated at the eighth grade. They walked 1 1/2 miles to and from school each day, joining neighbor children as they walked along. They were doing what all the families did in those years. In November 1927, the family moved from Goshen to Jerome, Idaho. It was a well cared for 160 acres that my father and his older brother Harry E. McMillan purchased together. Jean attended the Jerome Schools and graduated from the Jerome High School in 1937. This was a time when women were first entering the work world in offices as secretaries or bookkeepers or both. Jean felt very fortunate to work in the Agricultural Conservation Agency and then about 1943 was employed at the Heiss Investment Co. While in High School, Jean sat across the aisle from a Junior student, Glen Edward Palmer. They did not know they would meet again and date, before Glen was drafted into Service on November 7, 1941. On the Sunday of December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor was Bombed. Glen was at Camp Roberts California until February 1942 when he was moved to Orange, CA., where his Field Artillery Bn. was sent North to Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. This was not highlighted in the news but many years later a movie was made of the invasion classing it one of the big battles with the Japanese. Jean continued working at the Heiss Investment Co., she got word on May 3 or 4, 1944 that Glen was coming home on a thirty day furlough and to make arrangements to get married on May 7th, the same date Glen's parents were married. Everything worked out and "we had 30 days together" going up to Stanley Basin, their favorite area! Glen went back East where he joined his Field Artillery Bn., and shipped out to Europe. Glen was discharged after the War was declared over, on October 7, 1945. Jean and Glen moved to Twin Falls in November 1945. Both found work, Jean working as a bookkeeper at Reliance Credit Corporation, Riddle Roth, Evans & Evans CPA, Prudential Insurance Company, L.J. Koutnik Realty and Valley Vista Village. Glen worked for John Deere Equip., P.& E. Concrete and Triple CCC Concrete. Both enjoyed several trips together on vacations, going to California, Arizona, back to Witchita, Kansas visiting families they both knew. In their travels through long stretches of desert and not much to see, Glen would "Chide" Jean when she remarked there was nothing to see. Glen would then point out the shadows in the distant mountains, or the bright color showing on the bushes or trees. Jean started observing and found their trips very appealing with their colors. On April 4, 1984, Glen was diagnosed with Lung Cancer. He had surgery for the removal of the cancer on May 11, 1984. After healing, Glen drove to Boise Mountain States Tumor Institute for a series of radiation treatments. He did quite well and went back to work. On a check-up in early 1985, cancer was found in the ribs, so he underwent a second series of radiation. After a courageous fight of two years, Glen died at his home on April 17, 1986. His death followed Jean's father's death on April 7, 1986. Jean continued living in their home until October 1, 1996 when she sold it and moved into a mobile home at Cameo Mobile Estates. She continued her visits of shut-ins at their homes or in the rest homes. She also enjoyed lunches out with friends and quite often had breakfast out or an occasional lunch by herself. She kept busy at home with her Smith-Corona electric typewriter as she kept in touch with cousins and friends out of town and out of state. her greatest enjoyment during this time as the McMillan Family reunions, scheduled at various places in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Jean is Survived by her sister-in-law, Velma Reddick McMillan, Yuma, AZ., nephew, Vernon E. (Carol) McMillan, Yuma, AZ, nieces, Peggy (Jim) Stevens, Richmond, TX, Jill Joiner, Yucaipa, CA, nieces, Judi(Joe)Delgado, Midvale, UT, Vicki McMillan Peterson of Boise; nephew, Stanly McMillan, Melbourne, FL. She is also survived by Glen's two nieces, Dianna Jones, Sweet Home, OR, and Denyse Roehl, Springfield,OR. She is also survived by a number of great nieces and nephews. She was preceeded in death by her very much missed husband, Glen, her parents, her two brothers, sister-in-law Donna McMillan, her nephew Jay S.(Leann) McMillan, a former sister-in-law Clydie Reddick Muegerl, Twin Falls, ID, and great-nephew, Scott Peterson. Jean and Glen visited Jackpot, NV for a nice meal and particularly to watch and listen to Mustie Braun at Club 93 and he soon knew their favorite song "Somewhere my Love"! As soon as he saw them, he would play it for them which they appreciated so much.! Jean especially ask that her thanks go to Dr. Lucie DiMaggio, MD, Dr. James Retmeir, Orthopedic for their great encouragement to her in her knee replacement surgeries and medical care. To Cindy Laws, Jean appreciated her constant care and attention plus many "good laughs". To Sheri Hutton and her Mom, Sunny Russell "Thank you for the care of my Roses!" To Terrie Rider, for her clipping of toenails and our many good laughs, and to the many others who cared for me. At Jean's request there will not be a Service. Cremation will take place at Parke's Magic Valley Funeral Home in Twin Falls, Idaho. Internment will be at the Jerome Cemetery, Jerome, Idaho at the McMillan Plot beside her husbands grave, Glen Edward Palmer.