Murray V. Palmer, 91, of East Lake, died Monday morning June 22, 2009, at the Luce County Annex in Newberry, where he had been residing since July 2006.

Born May 4, 1918, in Perry, he was the son of John and Garnet (nee Darling) Palmer. Mr. Palmer earned a bachelor's degree from Wayne State University in Detroit.

Mr. Palmer had been a resident of the Upper Peninsula since 1947 and resided on East Lake since the mid 1960s. He was employed at the former Newberry Regional Mental Health Center for several years until his retirement. His hobbies and interests included home construction, spending time outdoors, and studying religion.

He is survived by five children, Michael Palmer of Curtis, William Palmer of Wyoming, John Palmer of Curtis, Kathleen Palmer of Phoenix, Arizona, and Carol Aldrich of Fowlerville; three stepchildren and their families, Donald and Judy Bjorkland of Newberry, Matthew Bjorkland of Rock Springs, Wyoming, and Vienna and Axel Bender of Greensboro, North Carolina; 12 grandchildren, and two greatgrandchildren.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Murray is preceded in death by his first wife, Marjorie, in 1997, his second wife, Verna, in 2005, and his sister, Jean Johnson.

Friends may call at Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry Wednesday, June 24, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Services will follow at 2 p.m. at the funeral home, with Pastor Gary Penning officiating. Interment will take place at Forest Home Cemetery.