Obituary of Mark Russell Palmer

Mark Russell Palmer was born in Flagstaff, Arizona on December 27, 1979, and passed to the other side on December 16, 2019. Mark grew up on a ranch south of Winona and attended all of his schooling from kindergarten to his master’s degree at NAU in Flagstaff. He loved the mountains, fishing and sports. Mark was an outstanding athlete at Sinagua High School in basketball and track. On August 16, 2003, Mark married the love of his life, Celeste Reber. Just three weeks later on September 9, 2003 Mark was in an automobile accident and left a paraplegic. With the help of his angel wife, Celeste, Mark has achieved goals – in spite of his physical challenges – few have achieved. He rode horses, operated heavy equipment, fished, hunted, coached basketball, and received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northern Arizona University. Mark and Celeste have traveled the world and shared many exciting adventures together. Mark loved to garden and learned much about plant life for food and for landscaping. At the time of his death, Mark was a School Counselor at Coconino High School and was helping coach JV basketball. Mark has touched the lives of many during his lifetime, but those he blessed the most were his family members. First, his wife and daughter, then his many nieces and nephews – all of whom adored Mark because of his fun demeanor, genuine love for them, and his pockets full of candy. Mark is loved by all who know him and he loved his family above all else in life. Mark has suffered much during his lifetime, but always lived life to the fullest. He would want his wife, Celeste, his daughter, Hailey, and all of his family to know that he loves them and looks forward to being with them after this life.

Mark is survived by his wife, Celeste, and his daughter, Hailey, He is also survived by his parents, Tom and Gretna Palmer, and his siblings: Kenneth, Steven, Michael, Daniel, Kalynn, Ricky, Timmy, and Pam and their families.

Funeral Services for Mark will be held Saturday, December 21, 2019 at 11:00AM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Stake Center, 625 E. Cherry Ave, Flagstaff, Arizona 86001. Interment will follow the funeral services at the Citizens Cemetery in Flagstaff.