Verl Palmer

Verl Palmer, 83 of Pryor, OK, passed away on April 17, 2018 in Tulsa, OK. Verl was born on June 21, 1934, the son of George and Lexie Palmer, Verl was born and raised in the Greenbrier Community, near Adair, Oklahoma. He had 11 brothers and sisters. Verl was married to Beverly Manos on December 31, 1984.

He grew up loving fast cars and working on them. He even told that he raced his own dad down a dirt road trying to stay in front of him, not allowing him to pass, because he didn't want to get his car dirty.

In the ‘70's he moved to Alaska, and worked as a Transmission Specialist. He and brother, Tony, did a lot of hunting together (boy do they have some great bear and moose stories).

He also lived for a time in Arizona. Being the country music fan that he was, he become friends with Marty Robbins and Waylon Jennings. He told that any time he would attend a "Waylon" concert that Waylon would get him from audience and place him on the front row.

Verl lived the rest of his life in Pryor, Oklahoma. He was a business owner for 65 years, who owned service stations and mechanic shops in several locations in Pryor. The last business he had was Verl's Tune Up in Pryor. In his shop he had a lot of memorabilia, pictures displayed, ice cold pop, and his family and friends loved to come by and reminisce. His shop was always pristine clean.

Verl had several loves in his life; besides his wife, children, grandchildren, family, and friends, he LOVED the OU Sooners, and attending the annual OU/Texas game with his brothers, sisters, and dad. He also loved John Wayne, his hero, Gunsmoke, western movies, his 1940 black Ford, racecars, driving real fast (which got him a few tickets). Another one of his favorite things to do was attending the annual Palmer Family Reunion and last but not least his tune up shop. Due to his great love for his children and grandchildren, he was always ready and available to watch them compete in sports such as baseball, basketball, soccer, sprint car races (some of which he owned), riding bulls, going to Agriculture shows watching them show their sheep and cattle, teaching them to hunt, use game calls, working on toys, bicycles, and any kind of car.

Verl had an extensive trophy collection spanning from his attic down into his home, his shop, and any other place he could stash them. Trophies consisted of some he earned himself while playing on softball leagues with his brothers, some from drag racing at Tulsa Drag Strip, Wild Game Calling for Coyotes. He also had several trophies of actual animal he had hunted which included bear, moose, deer, and coyotes.

There is so much more about Verl Dale Palmer; his laugh, his smile, his kindness, many stories he told, lives he had touch by helping and mentoring them, and of course his unconditional love for all.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, April 23, 2018 at the Cowboy Gathering Church at Inola, OK with Reverend Roy Shoop officiating. Burial will follow in the Benge Cemetery, Adair, OK. Visitation will be on Sunday April 22, 2018 from 3 p.m. till 5 p.m. at the Shipman's Funeral Home Chapel in Pryor. Buddy Glenn, Chris Poole, Dean Branstetter, Rusty Taylor, Bill Brown, and Wade Palmer serving as casket bearers. Phillip Bell and Johnny Littlefield and Scott Couch serving as Honorary Casket Bearers. To leave the family a message, please visit his Tribute Wall at www.shipman'sfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Shipman's Funeral and Cremation Service.

Survivors include; his wife Beverly of the home, His son Buddy and his wife Shara Glenn of Pryor, OK, his daughter; Tina and Scott Couch of Pryor, OK. 6 brothers, Bobby and Joyce Palmer of Pryor, Orville & Deena Palmer of Midwest City, Ok, Tony & Donna Palmer of Pryor, Freddie Palmer and Eddie Palmer both of Pryor, Dink & Cathy Palmer of Adair, Ok. 3-Sisters: Marjorie Kinion of Adair, Ok, Patsy & Jerry Griffith of Strang, Ok, Carolyn Tunin of Tulsa, Ok, 1-Aunt: Ola Reid of Phoenix, AZ. 16-Grandchildren, Numerous Great Grandchildren, and many Nieces and Nephews.
Also survived by Rusty Taylor, and his morning coffee friends at Eastside Café.
He is preceded in death by: his parents George and Lexie Palmer, 4-Sons: Dale, Billy & Johnny Palmer and Billy Manos, 3-Daughters: Tonya Poole, Nancy Palmer, Cheryl Palmer, 1-Brother: Billy George Palmer and 1 -sister: Norma Caldwell.

The family suggest that In Lieu of Flowers, Friends may contribute to Verl's Funeral Fund at Shipman's Funeral Home.

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