Alice Denise Palmer Smith Obituary (2025)

Alice Denise Palmer-Smith, known as Denise, and "Dee Dee", beloved mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, cousin, and friend, passed away peacefully in her home in Wenatchee, WA, on March 1, 2025. As Denise moves on to the next chapter in her story, she leaves an enormous void with those who loved and knew her, and she is greatly missed. Denise was born in Portland, Oregon in 1950 to her parents Robert Edward Ferguson and Eleanor Adele Wintermute. She graduated from Woodburn High School and Lane Community College, and worked in a career in insurance for over 20 years. She enjoyed retirement, sewing, reading, travelling, and many hobbies including doll-making, crocheting, canning, photography, and kite-flying. A devoted mother to Craig Andrew Palmer and Aaron Edward Palmer, Denise found joy and purpose in raising her boys, worked hard and made a good and welcoming home. We have especially fond memories of us all together at family gatherings, spending time with friends, laughing, playing games, in the pool, camping and travelling with Mom. She valued her family highly and chatted daily with her sisters. Denise was preceded in death by her parents Robert and Eleanor, sisters Venita, Geneva, Susan, and husband Lester Smith. She is survived by her sons Craig and Aaron, sister Dora, brothers Robert, and Orren, grandchildren Kelsey, Lydia, Andrew, Lacey, and Izaiah, great-granddaughter Adalie, and son- and daughter-in-law Jeff and Jennifer, and ex-husband, Douglas Palmer. She also leaves many friends, family, and former work-associates who will miss her smile, cheer, sassy charm, and friendship. We will never forget the love, encouragement, and strength she brought to our lives. A memorial and celebration of life service will be held for Denise at 12:30 PM (Pacific Time) on Saturday, June 7, 2025, in Gig Harbor, WA, at Harbor Life Church, 4417 56th St, Gig Harbor, WA 98335. For family and friends who cannot join us in person in Gig Harbor, the service alternatively will be live-cast (live, view-only, online), and the live-cast address will be shared via Facebook.