Home of: William and Gail Palmer

RANGELY | William and Gail Palmer are quite happy with the decision made in 1968 to move from Calumet City, Ill., to Rangely, a town they say they quickly grew to love.
William and Gail were married 51 years ago in Gunnison, Colo., and now are enjoying the life of retirement.
William used to work for the Rangely School District, where he was principal of the elementary school. Gail started out in Rangely as a homemaker, but she also joined the Rangely School District, working for 15 years as a secretary at Rangely High School.
The Palmers have two children, a son and a daughter. Son Brian and wife Darlene live in Springfield, Ohio, and have two children, Desha and Alexis. Daughter Michelle Chemielewski and husband Ray currently live in Denver, and they also have presented William and Gail with two grandchildren, Tyler and Kaylee.
Gail has been particularly busy with club memberships over the years as well as doing volunteer work.
She has been a member of the Rangely Garden Club and the Epsilon Chi Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha.
She also volunteered in the records department of Rangely District Hospital, served on the Rio Blanco County Fair Board and did volunteer work at the Colorado Welcome Center in Dinosaur.
There are a lot of things the Palmers like about living in Rangely and the freedom they now enjoy as retirees.
“We both enjoy camping, hiking and all outdoor activities,” Gail said. “Now we also enjoy traveling and seeing new territory,” having been to Europe five times, Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean.
“I truly enjoy the fact that Rangely is a small town and that people here really look after each other,” she said.
“In our minds, you can do everything here that you can do in the city,” William said. “It is a great base to travel from, no matter where you’re going.”
According to Gail, the greatest memory they have so far is that they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last year in Yosemite.
“That was a pretty special event,” she said. “Fifty years is a long time.”