Bob Palmer was larger than life. Cheerful, hard-working and generous, he lit up a room when he entered and his love for family always shone through.
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His death on July 20, came as a huge shock to a wide cross section of the community he loved and championed.
Born Robert Merton Palmer, he was the only son of Merton and Barbara Palmer, and a brother to Marie.
He came into the world at Gunnedah on July 13, 1933, and was raised in the family home at 13 Reservoir Street, just around the corner from the legendary Palmer's Shop.
Life changed for the little family when Bob was six and Merton Palmer went off to serve in World War 2. He was 12 when his Dad returned and he wondered 'who this strange man was hugging his Mum'.
Bob was a proud ex-student of St Xavier's Primary School and St Mary's College and he had fond memories of being one of the few boys in a class of girls during his high school years.
Bob's future was sealed when a young Jean Hackett came to to town as the daughter of the new station master.
Jean befriended his sister Marie and at first Bob was just Marie's annoying little brother. Jean left town with her family in 1951, but when she returned in 1960 to be a bridesmaid for her friend, suddenly Bobby Palmer was no longer so annoying.
The couple married at Our Lady of Dolours Catholic Church in Chatswood and built their family home at 19 George Street. Their first child Jane was born in 1963, followed by Michael in 1965 and then Belinda, who sadly died at the age of 16 weeks in 1967.
This unexpected tragedy in their lives was devastating for the family but the birth of their daughter Carolyn in 1968 helped to ease the pain. The family was completed with the birth of their youngest child David in 1970.
Bob was well known as a businessman and all-round good bloke. He worked in his parents' popular shop and loved the daily interaction with people and cheeky banter with customers. The couple's second business venture was Palmer's Sand and Gravel, which they ran for 35 years.
He was famous for his lolly jar in the bottom drawer of his desk - when children came in with their parents to pay an invoice, the young ones always received a treat.
Bob was proud of his national service in the army, and he loved his time in the Gunnedah Junior Chamber of Commerce, where he made lifelong friends.
He played rugby league and rugby union was honoured with life membership of the Gunnedah Rugby Club in 2016 for his services to the club. With his good mate Bob Andren and their very supportive wives, they sold raffle tickets every Thursday night at the the Parkview Hotel, helping to raise enough money to build the now iconic Two Bob Stand at rugby park. Not satisfied with that, they then supplied the players with Gunnedah Rugby blazers.
Bob's Catholic faith was an integral part of his life - the seed sown first by his parents and nurtured by the Sisters of Mercy. Bob was a keen member of the Young Christian Workers (YCW) group in his youth and weekly mass was always an important part of his life.
For many years, he and his wife Jean, coordinated a family group in St Joseph's parish, welcoming young and old to organised outings and gatherings each month. The Palmer's family group has continued to thrive.
Bob's sudden death at Tamworth Hospital on July 20 after a short illness came 52 years to the day after his infant daughter Belinda Mary.
The late Bob Palmer is survived by his wife Jean, and their family - Jane and Mark, Michael and Jayne (Sydney), Carolyn and Rodney, David and Tanya, 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister Marie Anderson and daughter Belinda.
St Joseph's Catholic Church was packed for the farewell mass on July 27, con-celebrated by parish priest Father John McHugh, visiting priest Father John Peyton and Jean's nephew Father Stephen Hackett.
The service was followed by interment at Gunnedah Memorial Park.
