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Covert G. (Coco) Palmer, 94

Covert G. (Coco) Palmer, 94, resided at Brookdale Assisted Living for three years. He passed away Jan. 15, 2017, at LaCrosse Rehabili-tation Center. He was born in Meriden, Conn. His parents were Pauline Gardner Palmer and Hugh Palmer who preceded him in death along with his son, Dana.

He grew up in New York and went to Stuyvesant High School. Afterward he attended Blair Academy. He joined the Army for a short time, then realized the Air Force was where he wanted to be. After boot camp he was stationed in Spokane, Wash., where he met and married Florence Huff. He became an immediate father to her two daughters, Linda and Joyce. Virginia (Ginny) Diane joined the family soon after in 1955.

The biggest adventure was yet to come when in 1956 the family was transferred overseas to Japan. Alan (Dana) arrived in 1957 and was a welcome male addition to a very female household. Coco was a supply sergeant and a photographer where he provided the men with necessary supplies. His reputation soon became his motto: “If Palmer ain’t got it, you don’t need it.”

He also used his love of photography to take pictures of military sports games and honed his skills at not only taking photos but developing them himself. The next duty station for the family was Sumter Air Base, Sumter, S.C., where daughters, Paula Dee and Marla Donnee were born in 1959 and 1961, and the family was complete.

Mountain Home Air Base would be the last duty station for the family before making a full circle back to Spokane in 1969 where he separated from the Air Force with an honorable discharge to start civilian life. The family settled in Coeur d’Alene. Coco and Florence soon divorced. Coco drove taxi during the day and played music at night. He played at the Ivy Lee where he would accompany Dana, Marla and Ginny in entertaining the dancers with songs. He continued to practice photography and developing and playing music. He played the accordion, the vibes and the piano. He had many friends in the music community. His longtime friend, Herb Day, is the only survivor of his circle of friends.

Coco was the grandfather to nine grandchildren: Randy, Erin (Scott), Shane, Jeffery, Gregory, Paula Jo, Jocelyn, Sarah and Joshua. He has 15 great-grandchildren and numerous great-great-grandchildren.

He was loved and will be greatly missed.

A memorial service with military honors will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, at Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d’Alene Chapel, 744 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene, with a reception to follow. Please visit Coco’s online memorial and sign his guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.