Judith E. Sheehan Palmer

Judith E. Sheehan Palmer, 69, of St. Louis, Mo., formerly of Du Quoin and Dongola, passed away at 5:00 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013 at her residence in St. Louis.

Judith was a retired registered nurse having worked over 25 years at Memorial Hospital in Carbondale and at the Perry County Health Department. She had been a member of the First Baptist Church in Du Quoin since 1964 until she became a member of the United Missionary Baptist Church at Buncombe. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority for over 30 years.

She was born Dec. 29, 1943 at Carbondale, Ill., the daughter of Edgar and Alma E. (Wright) Sims.

She married Charles M. Sheehan on Dec. 24, 1961 at Du Quoin, Ill. and he preceded her in death. She then married Barry K. Palmer Sr. on July 17, 1999 at Du Quoin, Ill. and he preceded her in death on May 6, 2013.

She is survived by a daughter- Amy Sheehan of St. Louis, two sons- Jim Sheehan and wife Tammy of Christopher and David Sheehan and wife Angie of Du Quoin, step son- Barry Palmer Jr. of Kell, step daughter- Wendy Beggs and husband Terry of Salem, six grandchildren- Ryan Sheehan, Megan Sheehan, Margaret Sheehan, Connor Sheehan, Andrew Sheehan and Anna Rose Sheehan, six step grandchildren- Cody Palmer, Caleb Palmer, MaCayla Palmer, Christina Nance, Blake Beggs and Bridget Beggs, one great grandson- Rowen Dearmond, sister- Jane Sims Bower of Roanoke, Va., many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and two husbands.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013 at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin with Bro. Paul Tirey officiating.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin.

Burial will be in the Sunset Memorial Park at Du Quoin.

Friends may make memorials to the American Cancer Society and will be accepted at the funeral home.

For additional information or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.searbyfuneralhomes.com.