LEWISTON — Laura Jane Palmer, 79, died Monday, April 9. She was an incredible wife, mother, sister and grandmother to her family whom she loved and cherished so much.

She graduated from Portland High School in 1956. She worked as a bookkeeper for Casco Northern Bank, as well as a secretary for a podiatry office in Florida.

She was married to Frank Palmer in 1958, until he passed in 1981. They had eight children, and fostered several other children.

Recently, Laura was very active with her line dancing clique in the Lewiston-Auburn community.

She loved new adventures and was always traveling to new locations. Her greatest adventure was to travel to Australia, where she was able to hold a koala bear, which had been a lifelong dream. She also had the privilege of traveling to Europe, Russia, China, Great Britain, the Caribbean and most all of the 50 United States.

Laura moved back to Maine from Florida in 1997, and has always been the glue that has kept the family together. Her family was the most important thing in her life.

She was predeceased by her daughter, Kimberly Palmer, in 1989.

She is survived by her brother, John Horace Whelton, and his wife, Marion Whelton; her son, Frank Palmer, and his wife, June; daughter, Linda Morse; daughter, Carrie Palmer; son, Dan Palmer, and his wife, Cheri; son, Scott Palmer, and his wife, Lisa; daughter, Jo-Lyn Palmer; daughter, Char-Lee Palmer; 14 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; two nieces and one nephew.

Laura Jane Palmer