MARY NANCY (NAN) ELLIS PALMER , age 92, of Springfield, Missouri, died on Friday, July 28, 2017 at the Arbors at Ravenswood, in Springfield, Missouri.  She was born in East Orange, New Jersey, on April 22, 1925 to Eleanor and Samuel Ellis, both of whom were natives of New Jersey.  She is survived by her sister Sallie Ellis Bethge (Pete), her sons Robert M.N. Palmer (Brent) and Wade Ellis Palmer (Phyl), and her grandchildren Joshua, Samuel, William, MacKenzie, and Mikayla.

When Nan was only one-year old, her family moved to Shanghai, China where they lived for three years.  Her father was in the import/export business introducing things such as the Ford car to China.  Her family returned to the United States in 1929 and moved to Akron, Ohio where her father was director of sales for Goodyear Tires.  Nan graduated from Buchtel High School and then attended Akron University for one year.  She told us later that the only skills she acquired at Akron University were playing Bridge.

When World War II was declared in 1941, her father's career at Goodyear changed and the family moved to Port Washington, New York.  On New Year's Eve 1942 Nan met her future husband Robert (Bob) Palmer which she later revealed was love at first sight.  Bob left the next day for three additional years of military service in Europe.  After his return in 1946, Nan and Bob were married on June 21, 1946.  During the war years, Nan worked on Wall Street and at Manhasset Bank where she worked until the couple moved to Springfield, Missouri in 1953.  Bob had accepted a job with the Springfield News-Leader as an Editorial Cartoonist.  Their marriage lasted 56 years.

In the late 60s, Nan returned to finish her education at Southwest Missouri State receiving her BS in Education in 1970.  In 1973 she received her MA in History from Southwest Missouri State and became an instructor in the History Department from 1973 and 1977.  In 1977 Nan became the Chairman of the Advisement Center, retiring in 1991 in a Meritorious Status.

All those who knew Nan found her to be brilliant, funny, and very frank with her opinions.  She loved gardening and canning and even her husband's hobby of beekeeping.  She was especially interested in European history throughout her life and after Bob passed away in 1999, Nan traveled to Europe and even China.   She thoroughly enjoyed her family and especially her grandchildren in which she took great pride.

There will be a Celebration of Life service at Christ Episcopal Church on August 4, 2017 at 10:00 a.m.  In lieu of flowers, please send contributions in her name either to Christ Episcopal Church, 601 E. Walnut Street, Springfield MO, 65806, or to her favorite charity Help Give Hope, 2733 E. Battlefield, Ste. 332, Springfield, MO 65804.   Online condolences may be left at gormanscharpf.com.