Bert Ray Palmer

Bert Ray Palmer, 83, of DeRidder, Louisiana, passed from this life on Tuesday, February 28, 2023. Bert graduated from DeRidder High School in 1958. He did some commercial driving, was an Arthur Murray Dance Studio instructor (where he met his children’s mother), and then went on to become a master machinist. Bert loved to read and learn as much as he could about the world and the way things operate. He enjoyed dancing, watching westerns, and harvesting his persimmons, Muscadine grapes, blueberries, and Satsumas. He was passionate about gardening, growing fruit trees, vegetables for himself and others, and watching the songbirds in the morning. He loved his sweet corn, purple hull peas, and homemade cornbread. Over the last few years, Bert spent a lot of time with his son on the family property sharing the family’s history of the property and working together to maintain it and clean it up after the hurricanes. He taught his son a tremendous amount about the machinery that he loved and used. Whenever he could make something or source something from the property he did. Those left to cherish Bert’s memory are his son, Ron B. Palmer of Orange, Texas, and daughter, Christine Palmer Belaire, of Baton Rouge, La.; grandchildren, Megan Palmer and Rachel Belaire. He is survived by siblings, Bobby Palmer of DeRidder, Elizabeth Palmer Cook of Keller, TX, Ken D. Palmer of Atlanta, GA, Charlotte Palmer Ellsaesser of Dallas, TX, Virginia Palmer Hataway of Mineral, VA, and Paul R. Simmons of DeRidder, along with nieces, nephews and an abundance of treasured cousins and friends. Bert was preceded in death by his parents, Albert Gale Palmer and Vivian Prather Palmer; his brother, Richard Wayne Palmer; and sisters, Alice Sue Palmer Nelson and Mary Palmer Campbell Carbo. Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 5, 2023 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Chaddick Funeral Home in DeRidder. Funeral service will be Monday, March 6, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in DeRidder, with Pastor Danny Wilson officiating. Pallbearers will be Ken Palmer, Paul Simmons, Wayne Harper, Phil DeBuse, Stephen Shirley and Paul Shirley. Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in DeRidder. Services are under the direction of Chaddick Funeral Home in DeRidder. Condolences can be made at chaddickfuneralhome.com