James Randolph Palmer of Warrensburg, Missouri passed away September 19, 2021 at the age of 68, following a valiant battle with cancer.

He was born on November 16, 1952 in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of Francis Leonard and Virginia Clara Palmer. The family moved to Blackburn, Missouri in 1966 before Jim graduated from Santa Fe High School in Alma, Missouri in 1971.

Right after graduating, Jim signed on with US Navy and headed to Great Lakes, Illinois to begin training. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War, serving from 1971 to 1975 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Hancock, the "Fighting Hannah," with his home port being Alameda, California. The Hancock was one of 24 Essex-class carriers built during World War II, serving from 1944 to 1976.

Upon separation from the Navy, Jim attended Central Missouri State University (now UCM) in Warrensburg, Missouri. He graduated in 1977 with an Associate's Degree in Automotive Technology. After graduation, he began his mechanic career at Warnick Dodge and then the VA Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri. His next career path took him to Whiteman Air Force Base where he spent the next 42 years as a civil service worker as a refuel and maintenance mechanic until his retirement in 2019.

Jim was a 37 year member of the First Presbyterian Church and a 50 year member of American Legion Post 131, both in Warrensburg.

He was united in marriage to Annie Lee Farr on March 17, 1978 at the First Presbyterian Church in Sweet Springs, Missouri.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents Francis and Virginia Palmer, his paternal grandparents Frank and Evelyn Palmer, his maternal grandparents Lawrence and Edna Rehkop, and his brother Dennis Michael Palmer.

He is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Annie Palmer; his son Eric Randal Palmer; his daughter Evelyn Elaine Palmer; his granddaughter Isabella Lee Palmer (who called him "PaPaw"); his siblings Lawrence F. (Theresa) Palmer, Teresa C. Scott, and Edna E. (Dale) Vogt; as well as numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

Memorial services will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 at Sweeney-Phillips & Holdren Funeral Home in Warrensburg, Missouri. The family will receive visitors at the funeral home from 11:30 a.m. until the time of service. Inurnment with military honors will follow at 2:00 p.m. at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville, Missouri.