Donald “Don” Ray Palmer, 78, passed away on August 19, 2026, in Lady Lake, Florida. He was born on January 11, 1948, in Sunnyside, Washington, to Carl Palmer and Betty Powell.

Don was the firstborn in his family and grew up alongside his siblings Dennis, Janet, Judy and Jaclyn. His father was an iron worker, and because of his work, the family moved frequently throughout Don’s childhood. By the time Don was grown, he had lived in 12 different communities throughout Washington, Oregon and Montana.

The constant moving meant Don attended many different schools, but it also gave him one of the greatest gifts he carried throughout his life—the ability to make friends wherever he went. Don had a remarkable way of connecting with people. He could walk into a new place and quickly make people feel comfortable, valued and welcome, throughout his entire life, leaving a positive impression on nearly everyone he encountered.

One of Don’s childhood adventures came during eighth grade when he went camping in the woods with the Boy Scouts. He and four other boys went exploring and became lost after their compasses proved inaccurate. A search party was called, and the boys were eventually found. The next day, nearly a foot of snow fell. He loved school and attended Highland Elementary in Kennewick, West Powellhurst Elementary in Portland, Goldendale Elementary, Prosser Junior High and Stevens Junior High in Pasco.

Don graduated from Pasco High School in 1966. He was active in school and his community, serving as Senior Class President and Vice President of Student Government. He also attended Boys’ State, where students participated in a model state government. He worked hard from an early age, holding jobs as a courthouse janitor and a short-order cook at Dog ’n Suds. He drove a 1948 Chevy and a 1957 Ford while attending college.

Don went on to attend Washington State University, graduating in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. He was incredibly proud to be a WSU Cougar, and his Cougar pride never faded. It was not unusual for Don to spot someone wearing WSU clothing while out and about and enthusiastically shout, “Go Cougs!” Whether he knew the person or not, Don was always happy to find another Cougar.

During his college summers, Don worked as a construction worker and drove a corn picker and a pea combine. Those early jobs reflected something that remained true throughout his life: Don believed in working hard, learning what he could and making the most of every opportunity.

In 1972, Don married the love of his life, Candice “Candi” Palmer. They met as neighbors after Don’s Halloween party became a little too loud. What started with a noisy party grew into a marriage of more than five decades.

Together, Don and Candi built a life filled with family, friendships, hard work, laughter and countless memories. They enjoyed vacations to Palm Springs, Disneyland and Walt Disney World, as well as traveling anywhere their children were. They loved sports and attended professional games together, but they especially enjoyed watching their children and grandchildren play. They also coached and provided transportation for the OES ski team together.

Family was always at the center of Don’s life. He was the proud father of Brooke (Christopher) Niehaus and Nathan (Bridget) Palmer, and he became an equally proud grandfather to Timothy, Daniel and Liam Palmer as well as Hunter, Morgan and Riley Niehaus.

Don loved watching his children and grandchildren participate in sports and took great pride in being there to cheer them on. He wanted them to understand the importance of working hard, taking advantage of opportunities, persevering when things became difficult and, most importantly, treating people well.

After college, Don began a career in real estate appraisal that would span more than four decades. He worked for the Multnomah County Assessor’s Office, followed by Curtis & MacKenzie. In 1978, he was a founding partner of Palmer, Groth & Pietka, Inc. The company later became part of Colliers International Valuation & Advisory Services, where Don served as a Senior Valuation Services Director.

Don earned the prestigious MAI designation through the Appraisal Institute and became highly respected in his profession. He served as a guest lecturer at both the Washington Eminent Domain Conference and the Oregon Eminent Domain Conference, sharing knowledge and experience with others in his field.

Throughout his career, Don was deeply involved in professional and community organizations. But his career was about much more than accomplishments and titles. Don believed in people. He was willing to give someone a chance, teach them what he knew and encourage them to succeed. He often saw potential in someone before they saw it in themselves.

Many people who worked with Don credit him with helping shape their careers and, just as importantly, the way they treated others.

One person who had the privilege of working with Don described his influence this way:

“So much of what I do, how I treat clients, and all the things above and beyond appraisal, I learned from Don. He gave me a shot out of high school and then college and always believed in me. Solid person.”

That was Don. He gave people opportunities. He mentored them. He encouraged them. And he believed in them. Don was also a sportsman at heart. He loved golf, racquetball, baseball, football, soccer and basketball. He coached CYO basketball, softball and soccer, giving his time and encouragement to countless young people.

Golf, in particular, became woven into Don’s friendships, traditions and relationships. The golf course was one of his favorite places, and some of his best memories were made there with friends and family. Don had a wonderful sense of humor and was never afraid to laugh at himself.

One of his favorite stories involved playing golf with his good friend Stu. While Don was eating a banana, Stu looked at him and said, “I can’t understand how someone can eat so healthy, and exercise, and still be so fat!” Don thought it was hilarious.

He was also famous for telling the same stories—sometimes more than once. His family and friends wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Don loved dogs as well. He once had a dog named Jacques who, according to Don, could play soccer. Later came Nicholas, another beloved dog who became part of the family.

Don loved to travel and visited all over the United States as well as Canada, France, Mexico and St. Croix. He always wished he had traveled more and seen more of the world, but he also understood how fortunate he was. He enjoyed life and often said that he had “lived life beyond his expectations.”

After many years in Oregon, Don and Candi eventually made their home in The Villages, Florida. There, they enjoyed their golden years together. Golf, walking, friendships, family and time together became an important part of their life.

Don loved Portland, Oregon, and remained connected to the people and memories that made the area special to him. He loved watching Washington State football, spending Thanksgiving with family, playing golf and simply being around the people he loved.

Don was kind, generous, stubborn and fun.He was never afraid to stand behind what he believed, and if you knew Don, you knew he was unlikely to back down from an opinion. His stubbornness was part of his charm. He knew who he was and was comfortable being himself.But underneath that spirit was a remarkably generous heart.

Don believed that people mattered. He believed that everyone deserved a chance. He believed in hard work, perseverance, opportunity and treating people well. Those lessons were among the greatest gifts he gave his children and grandchildren.

Don’s familiar words he lived captured much of who he was:

“Do you want to go golfing?”

and

“It’s not how tall you are but how big your heart is.”

He leaves behind his beloved wife of more than five decades, Candice “Candi” Palmer; his children, Brooke (Christopher) Niehaus and Nathan (Bridget) Palmer; his grandchildren, Timothy, Daniel and Liam Palmer; Hunter, Morgan, and Riley Niehaus; and his siblings, Judy McFarlane, Jaclyn Palmer and Dennis Palmer. He was preceded in death by his sister, Janet Palmer, and his Uncle Louis and Aunt “Charry” Palmer.

Don leaves behind a family who loved him deeply, grandchildren whose sports and accomplishments he proudly followed, friends who will miss his stories and strong opinions, colleagues and mentees whose lives were shaped by his guidance, and countless people whose lives were changed because he believed in them.

Don will be remembered for the way he made people feel. He had a gift for making people feel like they mattered. He believed in people, gave them chances, and encouraged them to become the best versions of themselves. And he left behind a lifetime of stories, friendships, family traditions and people who were better for having known him.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Washington State University Crimson Opportunity Scholarship Fund. Arrangements entrusted with BALDWIN BROTHERS Funeral & Cremation Society-Spanish Springs, 352-430-1449. Sentiments are encouraged at www.baldwincremation.com.