Ruth Ann Palmer
Ruth Ann Palmer (nee Daugherty), 1933- 2022; beloved mother of Philip (Kathleen) and Stephen (Jennifer); loving grandmother of Kyle (Maggie), Emma, Merle, and Robert; cherished great-grandmother of Abigail; dear sister of Kay Reilly and Joyce Anderson; devoted aunt to many. Ruth was preceded in death by her brothers Paul, Bob, Bill and Philip Daugherty and her sister, Judy Anderson.
Ruth was born in Flora, IL and grew up on the family Apple Orchard in Elwood, Indiana. After graduating from college, Ruth became a schoolteacher in La Porte, IN. In the 1950s she also met and married M.E. “Mike” Palmer and started a family. In the early 1960s, she gave birth to two boys, Philip & Stephen. The family moved to Illinois in 1968 and found their family home in then LaGrange Highlands. Ruth continued to be a substitute and full/part-time teacher at many local schools. She was also a Sunday School Teacher at the LaGrange Bible Church.
In 1976 Ruth, along with Mike, bought the Spot to Eat. Then, inspired by a trip to Germany in 1983, Spot to Eat became Palmer Place Restaurant & Bier Garten and it was here she would make her mark on the community. Ruth was a successful and hard-working woman restaurateur with a vision for making it work even when the odds were stacked against her. Ruth could always be seen making potato salad or washing dishes to pouring you a beer the first in the morning and last to leave at night, no stranger to often 15-hour days. She would love to hold court at booth #1 when time permitted. Her strong faith in God and even stronger work ethic got her through some very challenging times. Ruth received the Business Person of the year from the LaGrange Rotary Club and West Suburban Chamber of Commerce. While doing all this, she raised two boys who would both eventually work and take over the restaurant.
Ruth loved the Chicago Cubs, traveling Europe with friends, good scotch and an occasional cigar. A proud mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister, daughter, and friend, Ruth will be missed by many but her legacy will continue on through family and friends.
Visitation 3 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 22 at Hallowell & James Funeral Home, 1025 W. 55th Street, Countryside. Family and friends are invited to meet at St. Francis Xavier Church, LaGrange on Monday, May 23 for a 10 a.m. funeral mass. In lieu of flowers, donations to The LeaderShop are greatly appreciated. Funeral info: 708-352-6500
Mrs P as many of us called her was such a wonderful person She let me work at the Spot To Eat when I was maybe 10 or 11 years old because I was close friends with Steve One year she had me dress up in a bunny outfit along with Steve and Pete Kasper The three of us were the Three Amigos She taught me what hard work looked liked and if you wanted something you needed to earn it Iwill always cherish those moments Love you Mrs P
My dear friend and musical partner, Diana Laffey, visited me in Tennessee sever weeks ago. We were reminiscing about old times, and our thoughts turned to Ruth and the many wonderful summer evenings performing at Palmer Place. The most enjoyable part of the evening was sitting with her for hours after the show. We googled her name, and to our our shock and dismay, discovered she had passed away the week before. She will never be forgotten. Go, Cubbies. Farewell and Rest In Peace, dear friend.
Dear Stephen, Phillip and Family,
I’m so sorry to hear about Ruth’s passing. I have so many wonderful memories of Ruth and Palmer Place. As Kathy O’Hara mentioned, sitting with Ruth, chatting and slinging back a few after our long shows singing and playing in the Beer Garden were some of the best good old fashioned happy times we shared in our music career. Ruth always made sure our glasses and bellies were full. Sharing stories and laughing with her on our way into night as she still conducted business with servers coming to her for advice, was like watching a superpower at work. And we knew, after we packed up our gear and went home, Ruth would go back in to finish closing up her beloved Palmer Place. I will always be grateful to Ruth for hiring me to work as a “counter girl” for the lunch crowd. To this day, I don’t know why she thought I could or trusted me to do it. Late night singing, early morning coffee making? She taught me so much. Ruth, Mary Ann, Lisa and I made a kick ass team. We laughed and bitched our way through cutting onions, frying bacon, making Italian beef and tuna, chicken and potato salad, serving it up to the good people of La Grange. Then, when the rush was over, we all sat in the booth, figured out life together. I loved my friendship with Ruth. Her subdued nature was filled high with spirit. Go get it, adventurous, reach for the stars all the while working hard was intoxicating to witness. It’s not surprising to see how she got to be so successful. I did marvel at how Ruth was raised in a home where there was no drinking, dancing, singing or smoking allowed and she winds up building an epic beer garden and imbibing on old stogies. One story she shared with me that stuck all these years was about growing up on that apple farm, where she was told if she wanted an apple, she had to eat the entire apple… core, stem, all of it! While I can’t say that I do that now, but I do eat my apples all the way down to the core and think of Ruth when I hit the seeds. It’s truly amazing how someone can infuse your life with so much that lasts a lifetime. I didn’t get to see Ruth that much in the years after moving out of La Grange, but I took so much of her with me… so many stories and memories. I was not shy in telling her how much I admired her. It made her giggle with embarrassment and I’d see that little shy smile as she bowed her head. I’m not sure if I ever repaid her or could have ever repaid her for all that she gave me, but, I’m so grateful I was able to share a part of life with her. Grateful I could share some of that memory with you. I hope now Ruth is finally resting! With much love to you all. Diana