Annabelle Palmer

Mary Annabelle Palmer was welcomed into this world on September 9, 1941, by her parents Marva and Clele Fletcher. She grew up in Cannonville, Utah, surrounded by the red rocks and white hills of Bryce Valley. She worked summers at the Bryce Canyon Lodge and made many friends from all over the world. She attended Utah State University and College of Southern Utah with a major in education. In 1963, she was granted her heart’s true desire to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was called to serve in the Southern States Mission.

Upon her return to Southern Utah, she married Reuben Palmer in the St. George Temple. They moved to Babbit and Hawthorne, Nevada, and subsequently to Fontana, California, while raising their four children: Cindy, Cheryl, Jenny, and Scott. She worked as a teacher’s aide in elementary and middle school, ultimately retiring from the Fontana Unified School District at the age of 76 and moving to La Verkin, Utah. 

Annabelle was very active in the Church, serving in many capacities. She put in countless hours making quilts, dresses, toys, and various kits for humanitarian aid. She enjoyed writing, doing readings for the talent shows, and writing many roadshows. She was a great teacher, seamstress, poet, baker, and so many other things. Most of all, she was the woman who taught her children how to be good human beings, make the best of every situation, show gratitude, and how to have fun while doing it all.

She loved spending time with her eleven grandkids, loading the house up with treats, toys, and videos they could all watch together. Grandma Palmer’s house was always a fun destination for cousins to gather.

She enjoyed the company of several canine companions: Pumpkin, Pacer, and Frank, each in their own time.

She was a wonderful mother, sister, grandma, great-grandma, and friend to many.

She is preceded in death by her parents and daughter Stephanie, who died in infancy.

She is survived by her children: Cynthia (Neal) Tanner, Cheryl (James) Hawkins, Jen (Travis) Stafford and Scott Palmer; grandchildren: Alan Tanner, Cameron (Kaytlyn) Tanner and Kristalyn (Chaz) Woods; Harrison, Sam, Paola and Thadd Hawkins; and Henry Stafford, Natalie Kate (Drake) Hinton, Claire (Dave) Nisson and George Stafford; and great-grandchildren Derek and Maxine Hinton. Also survived by her siblings Sandi (Will) Wright, Rosie Fletcher, John Fletcher and Rex Fletcher.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, August 15, 2026 in the Cannonville Ward Chapel at 12:00 Noon. A viewing will be held prior to the services at the church from 10:30-11:30 am. Burial will be in the Cannonville Cemetery — Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina, and Manti