Lawrence F. “Doc” Palmer died Jan. 31, 2005, at McKinley Adult Care Home in Oak Harbor after an extended illness. Doc was born July 14, 1918, in Grandfield, Okla., to Lee Palmer and Gertrude (Morris) Palmer. He was raised in Oklahoma and later moved to California where he attended Tulare High School.

Doc worked in the farming industry in Visalia, Calif., prior to entering the US Army in December 1940. He spent nearly five years in the Army doing everything from driving large trucks to being a military policeman. He was stationed in California, Arizona and finally at Fort Casey in Coupeville. It was while he was stationed at Fort Casey that he met Minnie Van Rensum. They were married Feb. 13, 1943, at San de Fuca Chapel.

When Doc got out of the Army he worked at many jobs in the Oak Harbor area; he drove a taxi and also delivered baked goods for a local bakery. Doc later went to work in civil service at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station as a painter. He retired from civil service and opened his own wrecking yard, where he worked for an additional 15 years prior to retiring.

Doc will always be remembered for his trading. He would buy, sell or trade just about anything, which was evident by his collections of cars, boats and recreational vehicles. Doc was truly a shade tree mechanic. He didn’t always have what it took to make things work, but would always be able to improvise something that would work temporarily. Doc loved to bowl and was in various bowling leagues for most of 30 years. He was an avid fisherman and loved to tell stories, which went hand in hand at times. Doc was a member of San de Fuca Volunteer Fire Department for several years, another place he could get and tell stories. He will be missed by many.

Services for Lawrence F. “Doc” Palmer will be held Saturday, Feb. 5 at Burley Funeral Chapel at 10 a.m., with interment following at Maple Leaf Cemetery.

He is survived by two daughters and their husbands, Loretta and Gary Goff of Auburn and Loraine and Jerry Goen of Oak Harbor; three sons, Larry Palmer of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Richard Palmer of Albuquerque, N.M., and Jay Palmer of Seattle; three sisters, Christine Weygandt and Alta Jo Youmans of Antioch, Calif., and Dorothy Brown of Orrville, Ohio; 17 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Minnie Van Rensum Palmer, as well as his three brothers Richard, Albert and Donald and granddaughter Shannon Eagle of Monterey, Calif.

The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Home Health Care of Whidbey. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.