Memorial services for Janet Schmalgemeier, 88, of Marshall, Texas will be at the First Baptist Church, Marshall, Monday, February 15th, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be in Algoma South Cemetery. Mrs. Palmer passed away January 27th, 2016 in Athens, Texas.

She was born March 14, 1927 in Aba, Belgium Congo, Africa, to Grant Bush and Helena Salmon Schmalgemeier who were serving with the African Inland Mission. After graduating from Lake View High School in Chicago, IL, she attended Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL. She later earned a B.S. in Sociology from ETBU in Marshall, TX. She married Dr. James Melvin Palmer in Chicago, August 7, 1948. She served alongside James as he pastored several churches in Iowa, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas. They also served as Director of Missions for several Baptist Associations in Alabama and Ohio. They served in Northwest Ohio with the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention from 1959-1964. She and James moved to Marshall in 1972 when James came to teach at ETBU. In 1995 she and James served with the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention on Corn Island, Nicaragua. Janet served in leadership positions with the Woman's Missionary Union (WMU). She was active in the Marshall Lady Lions Club and the University Women's Club at ETBU.

Janet is survived by her children, Janet and George Ward of Dallas, James, Jr. and Viola of Athens, Jeffrey and Cheryl of Tyler, and Joel and Brenda of Mesquite; 11 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.