Hollis Eugene Palmer, 81 of Abingdon, passed from his earthly life to his heavenly home at 12:42 a.m. Saturday, October 16, 2021, with his family at his bedside.
He was born February 12, 1940 in Galesburg, the son of Eugene E. and Hazel E. (Odiorne) Palmer. He married Carol Harshbarger on April 16, 1961 in Abingdon.
Hollis is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Carol; his children, Chris (Robert) Jacobs of Whiteville, Tennessee, Mark (Jackie) Palmer of Galesburg, Illinois and Ken (Susan) Palmer of St. Charles, Illinois; four grandchildren, Holly (Keith) Hall, Steven (Rachel) Jacobs, Jacob Palmer and Abigail Suzann Palmer; three great-grandchildren Adam LeClair, Christian LeClair and Reagan Jacobs; and one brother, Floyd (Rose) Palmer and their family of Abingdon, Illinois.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his stepmother, Maxine Palmer, and infant stillborn daughter, Tracy Jean Palmer.
Hollis graduated from Abingdon High School in 1958. He later attended Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg. He served in the United States Air Force for 4 1/2years and was stationed in New York and California. He had lived in Abingdon most of his life and for two years in Tennessee. He worked for DCM Transport in Galesburg as a recruiter, retiring in 2001, and later worked as a greeter at Wal-Mart in Galesburg.
Hollis enjoyed his Bible and studied it thru the Dallas Theological Seminary and other Bible courses. He was a member of the Abingdon United Methodist Church and had also belonged to other area churches in Illinois and Tennessee. As a member of the First Congregational Church in Abingdon, he served on the church board and the Central Association of Churches, where he helped set up the Lay Minister Program. While in Tennessee, he and Carol were appointed to the Ventures Ministry of their church and served in the Ambassadors Choir, where they visited and read scripture and sang at area nursing homes.
He enjoyed computer sciences, reading and listening to music. He served on the Abingdon City Council from December of 1971 thru April of 1976 and helped to establish the EMT program in Abingdon. He became a certified EMT and served for 6 years as a volunteer. He also served on the board of the Abingdon Chamber of Commerce.
Cremation was accorded. To celebrate his life, the family will receive relatives and friends from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 16, 2022, at the Abingdon United Methodist Church, 401 N. Washington St., followed by a Celebration of Life Service with Rev. Dr. Scott Carnes and Rev. Jon Prain officiating. Military rites will be conducted at the church by the Fairview American Legion Post after the service. Inurnment of his cremains will take place at the Abingdon Cemetery at a later date. Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Services Abingdon Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.
