Reser Funeral Home
Willard Dean Palmer Jr., was born March 17, 1971 in Osceola, Missouri to Willard Palmer Sr. and Emma (Breshears) Palmer. He was called to his heavenly home on September 28, 2022 with his family by his side.
Willard attended Warsaw schools and played baseball for the Wildcats until he graduated in 1989. He was proud that all 3 of his kids played sports for the Wildcats and loved attending athletic events. His favorite baseball team was the St. Louis Cardinals and he looked forward to watching their games. He was glad he got to see Waino and Yadi break the all-time battery mates record with 325 games and Albert Pujols hit his 700th career homerun.
Will was united in marriage to Cathy Fern Breshears on June 3, 1989 in Wheatland, Missouri. To this union 3 children were born, Brittany Catherine, Megan Chantel and Willard Dean III (Trey). Will spent many hours at the ballfield with his kids practicing ground balls and hitting. He was teased by one of the city councilmen that they might have to send him a bill for the electricity from the lights at the ballfield.
Will shot competitive 3D Archery Tournaments for several years and loved to bow hunt for deer. He loved to be outdoors and went hiking and fishing with his kids and grandkids.
After attending SBU and playing baseball for 2 years, Will finished his degree in Criminal Justice at State Fair Community College. He was hired as a State Employee at the new 30th Circuit Youth Services Center in Bolivar when it was opened and was Shift Supervisor until it closed. Will then went to work at Green Gables Youth Facility in Macks Creek until it closed and then he went to Mary E. Dickerson Juvenile Detention Center in Camdenton until he had a stroke in 2020 while in surgery to remove a grade IV glioblastoma brain tumor.
Will was saved when he was 28 years old at a revival at the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church north of Wheatland. He joined the church and was baptized in the Pomme De Terre River at Sapps Landing. Will was ordained as a deacon at Macedonia May 2018. He was blessed to see all 3 of his children saved at Macedonia and join the church and baptized in the river.
Will is preceded in death by his mother Emma, grandparents DF and Olive May Palmer and Ruben and Alma Breshears, his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Roy Lee and Fern Breshears, brother-in-law’s, Carl Lee Breshears and Edsel Breshears and a sister-in-law, Sue Breshears.
Will is survived by his wife of 33 years, Cathy, daughter and son-in-law, Brittany and Jake Shaw, daughter and son-in-law, Megan and Charlie Daleske, son Trey, father Willard, granddaughters Graycen Dae and Hadlyn Mae Shaw, grandsons Axen Forest Daleske and Mavryk Randal Dean Shaw, sister Tama Harris, brother-in-law Gary Breshears and nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, October 4, 2022 at the Reser Funeral Home in Warsaw, Missouri. Family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Monday evening at the funeral home. Graveside services and interment will be held at the Macedonia Cemetery in Wheatland, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to the Macedonia Missionary Baptist or the Macedonia Cemetery c/o Reser Funeral Home, P.O. Box 910, Warsaw, Missouri 65355
