Chadeen Lee Brewer Palmer

Chadeen Lee Brewer Palmer, 60, died Oct. 31, 2009, at Hospice Compassus of Pinetop-Lakeside following a courageous fight with her illness. Chadeen was born April 23, 1949, in McNary to Harry Lee Brewer and Delta Amos Brewer. She graduated from Alchesay High School in Whiteriver and had several years of college and professional training for her chosen career in wildfire fighting as a certified incident command system public information officer. She worked on wildfires throughout the country as a member of the Hughes Type I Incident Management Team. During the Rodeo-Chediski Fire, she worked closely with Jim Paxon to get the latest news about the fire out to the public through press releases, television and radio. Chadeen was admired by those who knew her for her ability to get the job done and done right, often under tremendous pressure and difficult conditions. Throughout her life, she was able to balance the work she loved with the family she loved. She called her husband "my one true love, Dickie Palmer." They had three children, Lee Palmer Wagenfehr, Mindy Palmer Gardner and Richard James Palmer Jr., who was recently appointed deputy attorney for the White Mountain Apache Tribe. Her most recent employer was the Arizona State Land Department, Division of Forestry. She had worked for the White Mountain Apache Tribe and Bureau of Indian Affairs, Fort Apache Agency. The WMAT Housing Authority, Whiteriver School District and Blue Ridge School District also had employed her.The professional organizations to which she belonged included: Southwest Area Incident Management Type I (interagency) Team; American Red Cross; SWA Information Committee, incident command system instructor. Survivors include her husband, Richard J. Palmer Sr.; children Lee (Tyler) Palmer Wagenfehr, Mindy (Mark) Palmer Gardner and Richard James Palmer Jr.; grandchildren Julia Lee Wagenfehr, Alana Danielle Gardner, Melanie Noelle Gardner and Anthony Chad Gardner; father and mother Harry and Delta Brewer; sister Coleen (Brian) Brewer Veach; members of the Brewer, Amos, Penrod, Webb and Palmer families and countless friends throughout the country. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Nov. 4 at the Lakeside LDS Chapel. Graveside services will be held at the Brewer family plot at Post Office Canyon. A luncheon at the Pinetop Lakes Chapel will follow the graveside services to which everyone attending the funeral is invited. Chadeen was a lovely lady who never let her beauty and intelligence dim her humanity. She was cherished by all who knew her and she will be greatly missed.