Obituary of Carol Palmer

On Sunday, March 7, 2021, Carol Palmer, passed away peacefully in her sleep at the age of 66 in Ocala, FL.

Carol was born on September 19^th, 1954 in Eastport, Maine to Carolyn and Wilfred Cantara.  After graduating high school from Greenville, Maine in 1972, she joined the Army.  Boot camp and training were a success and she was deployed to Korea, serving as a medical specialist in a M.A.S.H. unit.  Carol was honorably discharged in 1975 with high regards from her superiors, after completing her service.  She continued on in the medical field pursuing a degree and graduating from Indiana University.  Carol then moved to Maine to continue her career in nursing and raise her son closer to her family roots.

 Carol had a very diverse career.  She enjoyed working at Maine Medical Center and KVMC, where her military experience led her to excel in the trauma unit and ICU.  Later she went on to work in Hospice care and mental health with the same passion of caring for others.  She truly loved every aspect of her career and the ability to help people. She always carried a medical kit in her car and had many stories of helping strangers in accidents that she would happen upon. 

Carol moved to Florida in her later years.  She started working at United Healthcare. Here she made knew friends amongst coworkers and patient’s families.   While living in Gainesville, she spent her free time connecting with nature and volunteering at Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation.  Working with Lions and tigers.  She also enjoyed the local horse ranches and working with animal rescue groups and fostering several pets. Many of which she took on as her own and rehabilitated them.  Later settling in Ocala, FL, she enjoyed time with her friends and working in her yard. She enjoyed being with her dogs Peggy Sue, Chewy, Kiki, and Sam, her cats, Katie and Willow. She called them her fur-babies and cared for them with so much love.

Carol was predeceased by her sister, Melanie, mother Carolyn and father Wilfred.    She is survived by her son, Derrick Mallar and wife Jessica, three grandchildren, Kiana, Mason and Ryder and her four siblings, Kathy, Sally, Melissa and Peter.   

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Marion County animal shelter and/or Voices of Change Animal League in Ocala, FL.