Paula Maurine Cushing Palmer, our beautiful wife, mother, grandmother and friend passed away January 28, 2022 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
Paula was born on December 7, 1950 to Paul Vernon Cushing and Va'Leen Gunn Cushing. Paula was an only child and spent most of her youth in the East Millcreek area of Salt Lake City where she attended Highland High School and graduated in 1969.
On December 29, 1968 Paula met Wain Palmer while she was a Senior in High School. They continued to date and shortly after she graduated they took a train ride to Grand Junction, Colorado where they had a lunch date at Lincoln Park. This is where they fell in love and their story began.
On November 24, 1969 she married the love of her life, Wain Palmer, in the Salt Lake City Temple where they were sealed for time and all eternity.
In 1971 they moved to Long Beach, California for a short time before returning to Salt Lake City where they would eventually settle down and start their family.
Murray City is where all of her children were raised and would later move to Riverton in 2000 where she lived out her remaining 22 years of life.
Because she was an only child, she really valued her friendships more than most. She was always so proud of maintaining friendships with her life-long friends that went back to grade school: Susan, Pat, Linda, Nanette, Kristin and Randy.
She made friends with all of her customers that she sold Avon to for over 20+ years and made great friends with people on the special needs bus where she worked as an aid for several years. There were two friends, later in life, whom she was especially close with; Sue and Jody. Sue just recently passed from cancer and perhaps, her very best friend ever, was Jody.
She also had the very best sister-in-laws and spoke often of how lucky she was to marry into a family that had seven sons so she could have six sisters.
She loved her children unconditionally and taught each of them good principles and values and what to look for in a spouse. She was an awesome example for her kids and made life so fun and easy. She loved spending 1-on-1 time with each of her kids as they became adults, usually lunch dates, or “just goofin,” a term she used for going shopping.
Paula was known for her beauty, but surprisingly, was unaware. She was stunningly beautiful all the way to the end, but it didn’t stop there. She was smart, kind, determined, caring, the ultimate mother hen and fiercely loyal.
She was also known for her strong opinions and her strength was immeasurable. She had a great sense of humor and compassion for anyone struggling in life. She was very sarcastic and even a bit snippy at times, too. She was a bit of a wild card, but she had amazing grace. She was a faithful wife and a loving mother and grandmother. She was the WHOLE DAMN PACKAGE!!
In Paula’s own written words she said, “I am so blessed to have had my five wonderful children and a wonderful husband. I want my children to know that I have learned that I have found a whole new big family by doing genealogy. They were wonderful people. Family means everything. It’s all that really matters. I’m proud of the stories of my ancestors as well as my own family; and someday your children’s, children’s, children will be reading about us. Thanks to my wonderful husband, friend and father to our children for helping me find my FAMILY.”
She is survived by her husband, Wain, her 5 children; Bryan, Ben, Dustin, Alyson, and Nathan; and 12 grandchildren of whom she was greatly blessed, Destri, Nate, BreAnn, Riley, Gavin, Oliver, Grayson, Anniston, Presley, Sloane, Dawson and Beckham.
She was preceded in death by her father, Paul Cushing; mother, Va'Leen Cushing, and in-laws Merlin and Elna Palmer.
Your song might be over, but your melody will linger on forever…
Please join us in celebrating Paula’s life at 11:00am on Saturday, February 5, 2022, at Larkin Mortuary Riverton, 3688 West 12600 South, Riverton, UT. A viewing will be held at the same location Friday evening, February 4, 2022, from 6-8pm, as well as Saturday prior to the funeral services beginning at 10:00am. Interment will follow at the Riverton City Cemetery.
To view the previously held funeral services, please click the "Watch Services" link above.
All the Primary Girls from The Parley's Fourth Ward were heartbroken when we received the news of our sweet friend's passing. Paula was always such a lady with such a sweet and kind disposition, we never would have guessed she would be the fighter of such a dreaded and difficult disease. Her fight was heroic and brave. We are grateful we have the faith and belief that she is now a beautiful angel in heaven as she was on the earth. We will miss her sweet countenance, her kind and caring ways and her interest in all of our lives as we met each summer to share with each other. May the Lord bless your family as you cherish her sweetness and goodness in the days to come. All our love to you and your family, Linda , Nannette, Pat, Sue, Sunny and Linda.
I will miss my dear sweet lovely friend! She was so much fun to be around. Such a wonderful mother and wife. She will be missed! Love you Paula. ❤️💗❤️💗❤️💗❤️💗❤️💗❤️💗❤️💗❤️💗❤️
This caught us completely unaware, and is very tragic news. When such a close friend passes away so suddenly, it is very disheartening to see another Highlander pass away. . .
We know for certain that we never lose the people we love, even to death. They continue to participate in every act, thought and decision we make. Their love leaves an indelible imprint in our memories. We find comfort in knowing that our lives have been enriched by having shared their life and love.
Words seem inadequate to express the sadness we feel about Paula's passing.
Our Deepest Condolences, Love,
Rick and Marilyn Sutter
Paula did we have lots of laughs sad times , I honestly don’t know what I will do without you. All our lunches. We had such fun with Wain and Dick I have missed having Duck around and now my sweet sweet friend I will miss you. I didn’t think it would be this hard. How the heavens will rejoice with you there.
Dear Wain and Kids.....
That was a beautiful service for a beautiful lady! We have so appreciated being your friends and neighbors and truly enjoyed our moments with Paula...her laughter, her sense of humor, her caring heart! She will be missed! Glen had written this poem and we hope it will bring you solace. We sure do love the Palmer family!
A LIFE TOO SHORT
By Glen Sherwood © 2009
We’re on this earth for only just a moment
Even though we live three score and ten,
While in our youth we view life as eternal
We’ll age someday then go, but not till then.
It appears for some there is an intervention
When the Heavens change the course of destiny,
At other times a loving God is silent
And seems to say what is to be will be.
We question not the wisdom of the Maker
Yet oft we wish to know the reason why,
When souls are taken too soon by the reaper
And loved ones who remain are left to cry.
The plan eternal says we’ll be together
When through this vale of tears our paths we tread,
To face an unknown step beyond our vision
The circle there unbroken holds no dread.
Our hope is for a new and bright tomorrow
And stately mansions there in which to live,
A place our Savior says he is preparing
For those who follow, this His gift to give.
In time of need we look to God for comfort
With faith and prayers of Him we seek relief,
And rest assured that He who paid our ransom
With loving arms outstretched will bear our grief.