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PALMER, Miriam Frances (21627)

Parents

Birth

  • Born on October 23, 1925 in Welsford, Kings Co., NS

Death

  • Died on October 20, 2022 in Kentville, Kings Co., NS
  • Buried in Berwick Cemetery in Berwick, Kings Co., NS

Marriages

Children

Notes

  • Occupation: Telephone Operator/ Entertainment Coordinator
  • Obituary: Departure of the Unsinkable Mickie Palmer Ward It is with a mixture of great sadness and relief that we must announce that Mickie (Miriam) Ward has departed this mortal coil to take up the position of chief social convenor behind the Pearly Gates. As with many of her generation, Mickie's life was a mosaic of good times, hard times, love, and loss, all of which she sailed through with irrepressible joie de vivre. Mickie was born October 23, 1925 to loving parents, Miles and Frances Palmer to whom she was deeply devoted throughout her life. In the fullness of time Mickie was to be the second eldest and only daughter, having three brothers, Gerald, Keith and Avard. Her early years were idyllic, spent on the family farm near Somerset, Nova Scotia where she ruled over her three brothers with a loving but firm hand. Some of her fondest childhood memories were of hours spent with her beloved Sable Island pony, Pal, a cherished gift from her father. In the late 1930s, the family farm was lost as a result of a devasting barn fire that destroyed the annual apple crop and the revenue it represented. There being no insurance or social safety nets to protect against such losses, Mickie's family picked up the pieces of their lives and moved to Stanley, Nova Scotia where her father had found work at the wartime primary flight training base. As always, Mickie made the best of the situation. When not attending school, she worked at the base helping to maintain the trainer aircraft. But Mickie's greatest contribution to the war effort was in entertaining the numerous young pilot trainees that passed through Stanley training base, a role well documented in photos and poems written to her by amorous young pilots. Following the war, Mickie obtained a diploma from Mack Business School in Kentville, Nova Scotia and worked at various businesses. But in 1947, love intervened, and Mickie agreed to marry Laurie Temple Ward. Mickie devoted the next 20 years primarily to the raising of her three sons: Laurie, Richard and Gregory. In 1973, however, with her sons grown, Mickie decided to leave the marriage and embark on new chapter of her life. Always the belle of the ball, Mickie spent the next four decades honing her skills and reputation as a social convener and butterfly to a fine edge. She enjoyed nothing more than an evening of dancing and socializing and was well known for the parties she hosted at her home. During those years Mickie also put her social skills to good use professionally, being employed as entertainment coordinator for several businesses, including Mountain Gap Resort near Digby. It was while working at Mountain Gap that Mickie met her second husband, Steward Purdy. They married in 2001 and enjoyed travelling and socializing until his death in 2012. Mickie was committed to doing her utmost to fuel the national economy. Any dollar that found its way into her wallet was immediately launched back into the economy twofold - a practice subsequently adopted by numerous provincial and federal finance ministers. Many is the occasion when Mickie would return from a particularly successful shopping spree to proudly announce that she had "saved more than she had spent" by buying deeply discounted sale items, regardless of whether she actually needed them. On occasion, Mickie would return items that she concluded did not meet her requirements. On one occasion even convincing a merchant to take back an item she hadn't even purchased from him and wasn't sold in his store! As she would say to her beloved grandchildren "you have to be firm with these people dear". Mickie is survived and lovingly remembered by her three sons, Laurie (Marie), Richard (Debra) and Gregory; three grandsons, two granddaughters, eleven great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, please take a little time to enjoy life and reflect on all you have to be grateful for. In recognition of rising COVID numbers, a celebration of life will be held at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Kentville. On-line condolences and inquiries may be directed to www.whitefamilyfuneralhome.com. Bon Voyage Mom

Sources

  • Funeral Home: White Family Funeral Home Kentville,NS Obituary October 2022

Images