Rosalie Palmer

Rosalie Marie Horton Jones Palmer, born June 1, 1938, in Independence, Missouri to Josephine Warnock Horton and William Horton (later raised by Josephine and Lester Jones), passed away, with her family by her side, on March 18, 2023.

As a young child, she spent a lot of time with aunts and uncles in Missouri and in California with her grandmother before moving to Salt Lake City to join her mother and new father.

Throughout her adolescence, Rosalie took on the role of mother to her siblings because Josie was often busy working outside of the home. She made sure the younger kids got to visit Santa at Christmas, did crafts to sell to earn money to go to Lagoon, and was a caregiver to her sisters and brother.

Rosalie graduated from Granite High School in 1956 and briefly attended the University of Utah, pursuing a degree in Commercial Arts. A hand injury sidelined her education but ultimately never held her back.

Rosalie married James Moon (later divorced) and had three children. Rosalie then married William Victor Boyd Palmer on April 17, 1964, in SLC. They were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on October 17, 1981. They were married for 56 years, until Boyd's death.

Boyd adopted Rosalie's 3 children and they had two children together, raising a total of 6 children, many foster children - receiving the Outstanding Foster Parent Award in 1984-, as well as cousins, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren at various times.

Rosalie had many different jobs throughout her life. She worked at Condie's Foods, was an Avon representative, a Camp Fire Girl leader, and also worked in their local corporate offices. She also worked at Walgreens, Western Quality Concrete, was a skilled cosmetologist and had a salon in her home for many years, and even spent some time working at the Utah State Capitol.

She loved the work at Western Quality Concrete, where she was a flagger, operated the sweeper, was over the flaggers, and later became a community liaison at construction sites. She was the person who would speak with business owners and residents in the areas where work was being done to keep them informed of progress as well as potential inconveniences. She took those P.R. skills and worked as a concierge at Rocky Mountain Raceway and at the Maverik Center during Utah Grizzlies Hockey games.

She was also a very creative person. She made ceramics and porcelain dolls and taught each in her home and in church. Rosalie was a skilled seamstress and made beautiful clothes for her children and grandchildren, including weddings, bride maids, flower girls, prom, and pageant dresses.

She loved making aprons, tying quilts, and crocheting blankets, doll clothes, hot pads, and anything else that could be crafted with yarn and fabric.

She was a strong and determined lady, always doing whatever she could for anyone she encountered. She hosted Christmas parties for the extended family on both hers and Boyd's sides of the family and always made sure that everyone in attendance received at least one gift from her. She even delivered loaves of bread to neighbors during the Covid-19 pandemic, just in case they couldn't get out.

She had a love for all things Elvis Presley, Coke memorabilia, chocolate, pretzels, Utah Utes, Seattle Seahawks, and chewing ice.

She moved to Legacy House Assisted Living in February of 2022. She made many friends, including her very special friend Virgil Ekstrom. She thrived there until the terrible injury that caused her to have a broken femur and broken hip in November 2022. After that terrible injury, she was no longer able to walk but kept a positive attitude and returned to Legacy House Memory Care in February 2023.

Rosalie was a fighter. She cared about and loved people, always had a smile for you, and often had a treat. She loved sharing lollipops, chocolates, and anything else she had that she felt would make you happy.

She was a loving mother, wife, aunt, sister, and friend and will be missed dearly.

Rosalie was preceded in death by her husband Boyd (6/1/2020), her mother, father, sister, Donna Hessling, and her son, Rob Palmer.

She is survived by her children: Victoria Hirsch (Rusty), Leslie Burgess (Paul), Tony Palmer, Chris Palmer (Karla), Crystina (Kasey) Foulger, daughter-in-law Brenda Palmer; siblings Art (Colleen) Jones, Jackie (Danny) Dringman, Terri (Neal) Kristofferson, Chic Kelly (Janeve) Jones, brother-in-law Dieter Hessling; special niece DellLena Lakey, as well as 14 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild and many other extended family and friends.

A viewing will be held Thursday, March 30th, from 6:00-8:00 pm at McDougal Funeral home, 4330 S. Redwood Road, Taylorsville, Utah.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, March 31st at 12:00 pm. at the LDS ward house located at 5233 South 3200 West, Taylorsville, Utah. Friends and family may call one hour prior to the service on Friday.

Interment will be at the Taylorsville City Cemetery (4567 South Redwood Road, Taylorsville, Utah) following the service.

The family would like to thank the staff at Legacy House Assisted Living and Memory Care, and Legacy Village for the wonderful care they gave Rosalie during her time there and the many friends and family that visited, sat with her, and even stayed the night with her over the past few years. Including the Aspire Hospice team. You made her feel loved and appreciated, for that we are eternally grateful.