Eva (McClanahan) Palmer

Eva McClanahan Palmer, 97, of Talbott, Tennessee, passed peacefully in her sleep on March 27, 2023 after a brief stay at Morristown Hamblen Healthcare System. Eva was truly an East Tennessee original, joking and teasing with the hospital staff until the very end. She had a boundless sense of humor and always spoke her mind. Her fiery spirit remained until her very last moments. Eva was born on February 3, 1926 in Blount County, Tennessee to James Washington McClanahan and Sarah M. Pickens McClanahan. She was the third eldest of ten siblings. She was preceded in death by her devoted husband, Fred Owen Palmer; youngest son, Roger Dale Palmer; and her siblings, Louise McCarroll, Kenneth McClanahan, Ida Scruggs, Kelsey McClanahan, and Sam McClanahan. She is survived by her eldest son, Ronald Owen Palmer; her two loving grandchildren, Owen Edward Palmer and Claire Palmer Dimick; her daughter-in-law, Ernestine Newman Palmer; her niece, Pam McClanahan Maness; her siblings, Eula Tassey, Tyson McClanahan, Roland McClanahan, and Pat Weaver; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Born during the Great Depression, Eva was instilled with a hard work ethic and an optimistic outlook on life. During World War II, Eva worked for the Oak Ridge National Laboratory as part of the Manhattan Project. After World War II, Eva married Fred Palmer and raised her two sons. She managed the household, devoted her life to her two boys, and eventually began selling real estate in Morristown, Tennessee. Later in life, she enjoyed going on day trips through the hills and mountains of East Tennessee, stopping to visit farmer’s markets and local produce stands. Memorial services will be held at 2 pm on Thursday March 30, 2023 at Jefferson Memorial Gardens, 812 E Broadway Blvd. Jefferson City, TN. After the services, there will be celebration of her life from 3 - 5pm at Gondolier Restaurant, 544 E Broadway Blvd. Jefferson City, TN. Arrangements by Westside Chapel Funeral Home in Morristown.

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