William Ardell "Billy" Palmer

WILLIAM ARDELL "BILLY" PALMER Memorial services for lifelong Cortez resident William Ardell "Billy" Palmer will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, December 23 at the Lifeway Baptist Church. Billy was born June 23, 1938 in Cortez the son of Bill and Gladys Marie (Bane) Palmer. He passed away at his Cortez home on Sunday, December 19, 2010 at the age of 72. Billy married Sharon Annette Sears on September 27, 1960 in Reno, Nev. He was a member of the Montezuma County Sheriff's Posse, Elks Lodge #1789, Cortez Trap Club, Civil Air Patrol, and Four Corners Trail Club. For a number of years he sponsored the Montezuma Cortez High School Rodeo Team and was an assistant coach for the girls' summer softball programs. He enjoyed spending time on the Glade, riding ATVs, snowmobiling, and camping and boating and team roping. When he was young, Billy participated in Pony Express races. Most of all, Billy loved time spent with his grandchildren and friends. Surviving Billy are his wife of 50 years, Sharon Palmer of Cortez; his two daughters, Jodie Mirabal and husband, Danny of Grants, N.M., and Kiffanie Byrd and husband, David of Bayfield, Colo., and by four grandchildren, JoDan Mirabal, Cody Mirabal, Kenasea Byrd and Kambrie Byrd. Billy also leaves behind his sister, Kaynet Rathjen and husband, Doug of Durango; his sister-in-law, Carol Ward of Cortez; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; and his loving dog, Arlo. Memorial contributions can be made in memory of William A. "Billy" Palmer with Hospice of Montezuma, PO Box 740, Cortez.