PALMER, Elmer Eugene"Gene"Gene left behind family and friends on May 18, 2015, to find peace and comfort after 18 painful months of back surgery, nerve damage, and too much bed. He endured most of it with the same stoicism and dignity that characterized his approach to all of life's adversities. Born in San Antonio, Texas on June 19, 1931, Gene grew up in Del Rio, Texas, where his dad, Elmer, was an executive with a Southwestern Bell precursor, and his mother, Ella Mae, ran a household including Gene, his younger sister, Carolyn, and orphaned twin cousins, Vera and Vesta. He made lifelong friends in this sleepy border town where his dad practiced his championship target shooting, raised chickens, and grew fruit trees, all in the same back yard. After graduating from Del Rio High School in 1948, Elmer was relocated to Dallas and Gene entered SMU as a Speech major to pursue a broadcasting career. During an ill-advised college break, Gene was drafted to serve in the U.S. Army. Being a "college boy" with public speaking skills and some good luck, he was assigned to the 97th General Army Hospital in Frankfort, Germany as part of the German Occupation Forces, instead of Korea. Among his duties, he delivered daily briefings to assembled troops instructing them on issues as varied as black market trading and venereal diseases. At night, he and his buddies met on the hospital rooftop for wine and pontification. After discharge, Gene returned to Dallas, changing majors to pre-law and beginning SMU law school soon thereafter. Working part-time at Hillcrest Bank, he met and married Jeffee Kay Gaddis, a fellow bank employee, the divorced mother of a daughter, Jeffee Lynn, who Gene subsequently adopted. Soon, another daughter, May Alison, was born and Gene transferred to UT Law School and moved the family to Austin to escape in-laws, he always said with a chuckle. Graduating in 1958, Gene started his legal career at the Texas Securities Commission at time when Austin boasted few jobs for graduating law students. Securities Commissioner Bill King, subsequently recommended him to lawyer John Osorio, former Board of Insurance Commissioners Chairman, who had started a solo practice and was looking for a smart lawyer to assist with an important brief. Thus began Gene and John's lifelong relationship as law partners and friends, first in association as Osorio & Palmer, then later, with former Attorney General Waggoner Carr and other local attorneys, as Carr, Osorio, Palmer, Dickson, Long, Coleman. The demise of the firm in 1971 was caused by the political explosion known as Sharpstown. Gene continued practicing law mostly solo, amassing over 50 years of State Bar membership and achieving Board Certification in Administrative Law. For almost three decades, he served as Allstate Insurance's Texas lobbyist and administrative counsel. In addition to insurance and securities law, Gene was also well-known for his ability to successfully navigate the maze of alcoholic beverage jurisprudence. His clients included countless bars, restaurants, private clubs, liquor distributors, and virtually anyone who sold alcohol and needed legal assistance with the intricacies of that law. In later years, Gene developed another speciality and passionate interest in racing law. He thoroughly enjoyed representing trainers, jockeys, stewards, owners, and all who make it a fascinating sport. He learned to handicap races and counted many in the industry among his closest friends, relishing time spent with them and his wife Tommie at the Kentucky Derby, Saratoga, Retama Park, and Manor Downs. Aside from family and friends, Gene's association with the Austin Club would be among his most gratifying. After joining the club in 1969, he was named Member of the Year in 1972 and was elected to serve as Club Secretary in 1979, a position he held until 2012 when he was named Secretary Emeritus. On most days around noon, you could find Gene and his good friends playing dominoes or gin rummy in the club card room. Known for his wit and humor, as well as his intellect, Gene collected friends during all eras of his life, including horse trainers, insurance executives, public officials, bar owners, other attorneys and lobbyists, to name a few categories. More often than not, clients became close friends. Many hours of his life were enjoyed swapping stories at Cisco's or the Poodle Dog Lounge, and in earlier years, at Louie's, the Quorum, and the Deck Club. His most cherished possession was his address book that enabled him to stay in touch with all the people that were part of his life. Gene is survived by his wife of 34 years, Tommie, along with daughters Jeffee Lynn (husband Armando Martinez-Vargas), Alison (husband Clark Webre), stepdaughter, Storme Palmer, grandchildren, Dagan Martinez-Vargas (wife Lea Ann), Dax Martinez-Vargas, Travis Webre, Marisa Webre, Estelle Heredia (husband Felix Heredia), Alec Palmer, great grandsons, Kyler Martinez-Vargas, Liam Heredia, and numerous cousins. He was pre-deceased by former wives Jeffee Kay and Frankie Palmer. A lifelong Methodist, Gene will be remembered for his conduct as a consummate gentleman and professional who believed that law was an honorable profession and should be practiced honorably. He will also be remembered as a devoted caretaker to his wife during almost two decades and a loving father and grandfather. In lieu of flowers, Gene would welcome donations to veterans' charities such as the VFW at vfw.org, American Veterans at amvets.org, or the charity of your choice . The family would like to thank all the caretakers at Gracy Woods II and Heart to Heart Hospice for their compassionate care. A service to celebrate and honor the life of Gene will be held at Weed Corley Fish at 3201 N. Lamar on June 19, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. Please bring stories of Gene you'd like to share. A private interment will be scheduled later at Ft. Sam Houston. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/statesman/obituary.aspx?n=elmer-eugene-palmer-gene&pid=175077112&fhid=5106#sthash.v3yQPsTO.dpuf
