JoAnn (Feist) Palmer, 89, of San Angelo passed away on Sunday, October 17, 2021 in her home surrounded by her loved ones. JoAnn was born on October 23, 1931, in San Angelo, Texas to Andrew and Leona Feist Sr. She grew up in Wall, Texas working hard on the farm with her family.  

On August 8, 1949 she married the love of her life, Wilbert (PA) Palmer in the St. Ambrose Catholic church in Wall, TX. JoAnn loved going dancing any chance she had while dragging PA along with her whether he wanted to or not! They moved to Sheffield where PA worked on a ranch for many years while raising their family. When the children left for school, JoAnn would get a pillowcase, saddle up her horse and headed out looking for arrowheads. During her time on the ranch, she became an avid arrowhead hunter. PA enjoyed chipping flint he found into arrowheads and tossing them out on the ranch for JoAnn to find. When JoAnn would find one of PA’s arrowheads, she knew that the girls had been tossing them out in front of her. In the later years on the ranch the family enjoyed exploring caves and sifting for Indian artifacts. When the family moved to San Angelo, JoAnn became a member of the Concho Valley Archeological Society where her and Wanda participated in many digs. 

JoAnn was a great cook and she always had something sweet to eat. People enjoyed stopping by for a visit and some of her home cooked food. If you couldn’t find her all you had to do was listen for her. She was always humming or singing, mainly while she was cooking and baking. 

She was a believer in hard work and instilled that value into her children. She was proud of the things they had, and she worked to keep everything neat and organized. JoAnn believed in her children getting a good education and helping them when they needed it. She expected not only her children to do good in school and work hard but her grandchildren and great grandchildren too. In her pastime she loved to read westerns and write poems. Some of the poetry she wrote were for family birthdays, our beloved pets that passed away and, on the digs, she helped with at Fort Concho. 

She was an active member of the Catholic church where they attended as a family. She taught her children about faith and the importance of being a part of the church. She always volunteered to help with the church festivals. 

When grandchildren or great grandchildren would come for a visit, she would show them her arrowhead collections and tell stories about them. She loved sharing stories of her life and how things used to be. She loved taking pictures. She always had a camera in her hand. She was not the best photographer because in most of her pictures she cut your head off. She always had baked treats, from chocolate pudding, cookies to her famous cinnamon rolls, that she would send home with them. 

She is preceded in death by her husband Wilbert (PA) Palmer, parents Andrew and Leona Feist Sr., brother Andrew Feist Jr., sister Mary Ruth Mees (Lynn), brother-in-law Leslie Smith, son-in-law Roy Gene Lloyd. She is survived by her sister Wanda Smith of San Angelo, sister-in-law Lloma Feist of Midland, daughter Elane (Nicki) Palmer of San Angelo, son Wayne Palmer (Kathy) of Sundown, daughter Melissa Lloyd of Eldorado; grandchildren: Catherine (Seth) Becker, Tabitha (Chris) Lipham, Mitzi (Colby) Miller and Cody (Elizabeth) Palmer; great grandchildren: Cooper Becker, Chloe Becker, Sadie Becker, Preston Lipham, Harrison Lipham, Lane Miller, Ella Miller, Max Miller, Carlyle Palmer and Wyatt Palmer. 

Visitation will be held at Harper Funeral Home on Tuesday, October 19th from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A Rosary Service will be held at Harper Funeral Home on Tuesday, October 19th at 6:00 p.m. The mass will be held at Holy Angels Catholic Church on Wednesday, October 20th at 10:00 a.m. with burial to follow at St. Ambrose Cemetery in Wall, Texas. 

Pallbearers for the service are Seth Becker, Chris Lipham, Colby Miller, Cody Palmer, Kerry Stewart and Mike Wood. Honorary Pallbearers are Cooper Becker, Harrison Lipham, Preston Lipham, Lane Miller, Max Miller and Wyatt Palmer. 

The family would like to thank Hospice of San Angelo for the amazing care of JoAnn during her last stage of life. 

In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to Hospice of San Angelo, Catholic Outreach Services, Meals for the Elderly or a charity of your, choice

Rosary

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

6:00PM

Harper Funeral Home 
2606 Southland Boulevard 
San Angelo, TX 76904

Funeral Mass

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

10:00AM

Holy Angels Catholic Church 
2309 A & M 
San Angelo, TX 76904

Final Resting Place

St. Ambrose Catholic Cemetery 

Wall, TX