The Chelsea Standard
A Heritage Newspaper
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'Hey, ya got a minute'
Community bids farewell to Chelsea pillar
By Edward Freundl, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: February 21, 2008
Rather than an expression of grief and sadness, the service was a celebration of the life of the man who owned and operated Palmer Ford-Mercury for more than 50 years, and gave so much of himself to the community during that time.
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Palmer died Feb. 10 at the age of 78 after fighting complications of Alzheimer's disease for three years.
Palmer's love of jazz was hinted at as pianist Brian Brill played a soulful rendition of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" before the service began, and saxophonist Max Plank played "He Leadeth Me" as the casket was brought to the front of the sanctuary.
Fellow longtime businessman Bob Daniels delivered a heartfelt eulogy for the man he'd called a friend since their kindergarten days.
"There will only be one George Palmer," Daniels said. "He was a quiet person; he supported so many things people didn't know about - that was George.
"He kept the dealership downtown, he didn't move it out somewhere," Daniels continued. "He wanted it to stay in the historic downtown because that was important to him."
Daniels evoked smiles and even outright laughter from the congregation in relating some light-hearted anecdotes about "George Leigh."
"I thought I knew him, but I learned more about George Palmer in the past seven months than I ever did," Daniels said, recalling a few touching visits with Palmer in his final months in Towsley Village, at the Chelsea Retirement Community.
The Rev. Joy Barrett's homily touched on many of the same points as the eulogy, particularly Palmer's generosity and love of family and community.
His work ethic and meticulous nature also were legendary, Barrett said.
"He will forever be remembered for the phrase, 'Hey, ya got a minute?'" Barrett said, as a lead-up to asking someone to take charge of a project he saw needed to be done.
"Work was his life and his hobby; he was a master of puttering," Barrett said.
"He was a tool man: he had a complete set of tools at his house in town and another complete set at his house at the lake, and every tool had his name and phone number on it ...
"On his pegboard every tool had a place, and every tool was in its place, he could find it blindfolded ...
"Many today would say, 'I am what I am today because of George Palmer.'
"No doubt George and God have had some interesting conversations so far," Barrett concluded.
"I can just hear him saying, 'Hey, God, ya got a minute?'"
The service ended with Brill playing a spiced-up version of "Onward Christian Soldiers" and "When the Saints Go Marching In."
Some accompanied the family to Mount Olivet East Cemetery for the burial, followed by a luncheon back at the church social hall.
Matthew Weber, 20; and John Weber, 22; sons of Suzie Palmer Weber and Biff Weber, interrupted their studies at the University of Arizona to return to Chelsea for the funeral.
Both shared memories of their grandfather.
"He was always doing his own thing," John said.
"The biggest thing I remember was that he never cared if we messed around with all of his tools. He was always tinkering with things."
According to Matthew, "He was just a really positive person, he really cared about his family."
John added: "I don't think he ever worried about himself; it was always how something would affect other people."
Great-niece Carly Daniels said she will treasure an especially pleasant memory of Palmer.
"We did a lot of family stuff together; he was always smiling and laughing about stuff," she said.
"A couple of weeks ago I made a batch of M&M cookies and took them to him, and he ate the whole batch, so my last memory of him will be a good one."
Other friends and contemporaries shared their reminiscences of Palmer.
"I appreciated the opportunity to have served with him on the bank board," said John Mann, current president of Chelsea State Bank.
"I was thankful to have known him, he was a great guy.
"He had impeccable character, the highest ethical standards and good business judgment," Mann added.
"He didn't speak up a lot, but when he did he had something to say. And, he had a knack for saying something important at just the right time."
"I knew him all of my life; he was a member of the Legion for more than 50 years," said O'Dell, who used to be Palmer's neighbor at Cavanaugh Lake.
"He was a born salesman; he'd come out to your house at 11 o'clock at night if he thought you were interested (in buying a car)."
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