Jean drowned in a boating accident in Melones Reservoir.
She was the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Richard Palmer (Richard Quick Palmer and Edna Marie Hague).
Sonora Memorial Swimming Pool, located at Sonora Union High School, was built in her memory for her parents' wish to encourage parents to have their children learn to swim.
The Union Democrat
June 28, 1951
Page 2 Column 2
Boating mishap claims life of Jean Marie Palmer, 7-year old daughter of Dick Palmer
The community was shocked last Saturday evening by the tragedy which took the life of Jean Palmer, 7 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Palmer, well known residents of Sonora.
The little girl was drowned at Melones Reservoir when she was accidentally thrown from a boat equipped with an outboard motor while riding with her father. The mishap occurred when the boat struck a partially submerged snag, and Miss Palmer, riding in the bow, was thrown out and into the water. Palmer was thrown to the floor of the boat by the mishap and when he had recovered and straightened up found that his daughter was missing. Seeing her floating nearby, he dove into the water with all of his clothes on, and though he made a heroic effort to recover her, was unable to do so and was forced to swim for the shore -- 150 yards away. Hampered by his clothing Palmer was just able to reach the shore.
Others who were in the vicinity of the tragedy were helpless to assist when they were unable to find any drift wood which could be used and the only boat on the shore was locked to its mooring.
Sheriff Don L. Vars and his deputies rushed to the scene and after more than three hours work, recovered the child's body in more than 60 feet of water. Also offering assistance in the search were members of the Jamestown Volunteer Fire Department, who carried their resuscitator to the reservoir, and Bill Ringsted, of Melones, who furnished the boat used by the sheriff's deputies. The firemen were Sam Milton, Clarence Loney, Newell Dilbeck, and Constable Harold Johnson. The sheriff's deputies who participated in the search were Deputies Miller Sardella and Art Webb.
Funeral services for the child were held from the Terzich and Wilson funeral home at 2:30 Tuesday afternoon with Rev. Edgar Nelson of the Sonora Methodist Church officiating. Interment was in the Masonic Cemetery here.
Jeannie leaves, besides her parents, her maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Hague, of Missouri; her paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Palmer, of Honolulu, Hawaii; and several uncles and aunts, including Gordon Palmer, twin brother of her father, and formerly of Sonora, of Las Vegas, Nevada.
Through a special request made by Mr. and Mrs. Palmer, friends were requested to send no flowers, but were urged to make their donations to a special fund which will be used for improving general swimming conditions and for teaching swimming to all Tuolumne County children. The fund, designated as the American Red Cross Palmer Fund will be in the charge of Marcel M. Baer, whom friends are requested to contact. Donations, specially marked, will also be received by Frank G. Oliver and Harry J. Hurst.
She was the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Richard Palmer (Richard Quick Palmer and Edna Marie Hague).
Sonora Memorial Swimming Pool, located at Sonora Union High School, was built in her memory for her parents' wish to encourage parents to have their children learn to swim.
The Union Democrat
June 28, 1951
Page 2 Column 2
Boating mishap claims life of Jean Marie Palmer, 7-year old daughter of Dick Palmer
The community was shocked last Saturday evening by the tragedy which took the life of Jean Palmer, 7 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Palmer, well known residents of Sonora.
The little girl was drowned at Melones Reservoir when she was accidentally thrown from a boat equipped with an outboard motor while riding with her father. The mishap occurred when the boat struck a partially submerged snag, and Miss Palmer, riding in the bow, was thrown out and into the water. Palmer was thrown to the floor of the boat by the mishap and when he had recovered and straightened up found that his daughter was missing. Seeing her floating nearby, he dove into the water with all of his clothes on, and though he made a heroic effort to recover her, was unable to do so and was forced to swim for the shore -- 150 yards away. Hampered by his clothing Palmer was just able to reach the shore.
Others who were in the vicinity of the tragedy were helpless to assist when they were unable to find any drift wood which could be used and the only boat on the shore was locked to its mooring.
Sheriff Don L. Vars and his deputies rushed to the scene and after more than three hours work, recovered the child's body in more than 60 feet of water. Also offering assistance in the search were members of the Jamestown Volunteer Fire Department, who carried their resuscitator to the reservoir, and Bill Ringsted, of Melones, who furnished the boat used by the sheriff's deputies. The firemen were Sam Milton, Clarence Loney, Newell Dilbeck, and Constable Harold Johnson. The sheriff's deputies who participated in the search were Deputies Miller Sardella and Art Webb.
Funeral services for the child were held from the Terzich and Wilson funeral home at 2:30 Tuesday afternoon with Rev. Edgar Nelson of the Sonora Methodist Church officiating. Interment was in the Masonic Cemetery here.
Jeannie leaves, besides her parents, her maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Hague, of Missouri; her paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Palmer, of Honolulu, Hawaii; and several uncles and aunts, including Gordon Palmer, twin brother of her father, and formerly of Sonora, of Las Vegas, Nevada.
Through a special request made by Mr. and Mrs. Palmer, friends were requested to send no flowers, but were urged to make their donations to a special fund which will be used for improving general swimming conditions and for teaching swimming to all Tuolumne County children. The fund, designated as the American Red Cross Palmer Fund will be in the charge of Marcel M. Baer, whom friends are requested to contact. Donations, specially marked, will also be received by Frank G. Oliver and Harry J. Hurst.
Jean drowned in a boating accident in Melones Reservoir.
She was the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Richard Palmer (Richard Quick Palmer and Edna Marie Hague).
Sonora Memorial Swimming Pool, located at Sonora Union High School, was built in her memory for her parents' wish to encourage parents to have their children learn to swim.
The Union Democrat
June 28, 1951
Page 2 Column 2
Boating mishap claims life of Jean Marie Palmer, 7-year old daughter of Dick Palmer
The community was shocked last Saturday evening by the tragedy which took the life of Jean Palmer, 7 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Palmer, well known residents of Sonora.
The little girl was drowned at Melones Reservoir when she was accidentally thrown from a boat equipped with an outboard motor while riding with her father. The mishap occurred when the boat struck a partially submerged snag, and Miss Palmer, riding in the bow, was thrown out and into the water. Palmer was thrown to the floor of the boat by the mishap and when he had recovered and straightened up found that his daughter was missing. Seeing her floating nearby, he dove into the water with all of his clothes on, and though he made a heroic effort to recover her, was unable to do so and was forced to swim for the shore -- 150 yards away. Hampered by his clothing Palmer was just able to reach the shore.
Others who were in the vicinity of the tragedy were helpless to assist when they were unable to find any drift wood which could be used and the only boat on the shore was locked to its mooring.
Sheriff Don L. Vars and his deputies rushed to the scene and after more than three hours work, recovered the child's body in more than 60 feet of water. Also offering assistance in the search were members of the Jamestown Volunteer Fire Department, who carried their resuscitator to the reservoir, and Bill Ringsted, of Melones, who furnished the boat used by the sheriff's deputies. The firemen were Sam Milton, Clarence Loney, Newell Dilbeck, and Constable Harold Johnson. The sheriff's deputies who participated in the search were Deputies Miller Sardella and Art Webb.
Funeral services for the child were held from the Terzich and Wilson funeral home at 2:30 Tuesday afternoon with Rev. Edgar Nelson of the Sonora Methodist Church officiating. Interment was in the Masonic Cemetery here.
Jeannie leaves, besides her parents, her maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Hague, of Missouri; her paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Palmer, of Honolulu, Hawaii; and several uncles and aunts, including Gordon Palmer, twin brother of her father, and formerly of Sonora, of Las Vegas, Nevada.
Through a special request made by Mr. and Mrs. Palmer, friends were requested to send no flowers, but were urged to make their donations to a special fund which will be used for improving general swimming conditions and for teaching swimming to all Tuolumne County children. The fund, designated as the American Red Cross Palmer Fund will be in the charge of Marcel M. Baer, whom friends are requested to contact. Donations, specially marked, will also be received by Frank G. Oliver and Harry J. Hurst.
She was the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Richard Palmer (Richard Quick Palmer and Edna Marie Hague).
Sonora Memorial Swimming Pool, located at Sonora Union High School, was built in her memory for her parents' wish to encourage parents to have their children learn to swim.
The Union Democrat
June 28, 1951
Page 2 Column 2
Boating mishap claims life of Jean Marie Palmer, 7-year old daughter of Dick Palmer
The community was shocked last Saturday evening by the tragedy which took the life of Jean Palmer, 7 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Palmer, well known residents of Sonora.
The little girl was drowned at Melones Reservoir when she was accidentally thrown from a boat equipped with an outboard motor while riding with her father. The mishap occurred when the boat struck a partially submerged snag, and Miss Palmer, riding in the bow, was thrown out and into the water. Palmer was thrown to the floor of the boat by the mishap and when he had recovered and straightened up found that his daughter was missing. Seeing her floating nearby, he dove into the water with all of his clothes on, and though he made a heroic effort to recover her, was unable to do so and was forced to swim for the shore -- 150 yards away. Hampered by his clothing Palmer was just able to reach the shore.
Others who were in the vicinity of the tragedy were helpless to assist when they were unable to find any drift wood which could be used and the only boat on the shore was locked to its mooring.
Sheriff Don L. Vars and his deputies rushed to the scene and after more than three hours work, recovered the child's body in more than 60 feet of water. Also offering assistance in the search were members of the Jamestown Volunteer Fire Department, who carried their resuscitator to the reservoir, and Bill Ringsted, of Melones, who furnished the boat used by the sheriff's deputies. The firemen were Sam Milton, Clarence Loney, Newell Dilbeck, and Constable Harold Johnson. The sheriff's deputies who participated in the search were Deputies Miller Sardella and Art Webb.
Funeral services for the child were held from the Terzich and Wilson funeral home at 2:30 Tuesday afternoon with Rev. Edgar Nelson of the Sonora Methodist Church officiating. Interment was in the Masonic Cemetery here.
Jeannie leaves, besides her parents, her maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Hague, of Missouri; her paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Palmer, of Honolulu, Hawaii; and several uncles and aunts, including Gordon Palmer, twin brother of her father, and formerly of Sonora, of Las Vegas, Nevada.
Through a special request made by Mr. and Mrs. Palmer, friends were requested to send no flowers, but were urged to make their donations to a special fund which will be used for improving general swimming conditions and for teaching swimming to all Tuolumne County children. The fund, designated as the American Red Cross Palmer Fund will be in the charge of Marcel M. Baer, whom friends are requested to contact. Donations, specially marked, will also be received by Frank G. Oliver and Harry J. Hurst.
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