Anne Richards Palmer
WATERVILLE – Anne Richards Palmer, beloved mother, friend, businesswoman and tireless community servant for the City of Waterville and beyond, died March 25, 2024, at Alfond Center for Health.
Anne was born Aug. 15, 1933, in Chillicothe, Missouri, to Arline Richards Copple Marks and Laverne G. Copple. Her adopted father was Nathaniel Burbank.
She grew up in Waterville with her grandparents, Hattie and Jess Richards, graduated from Waterville High School in 1951 and then enrolled in Colby College, from which she graduated in 1955.
On Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 1957, Anne married David Richardson Palmer and they moved to Miami, Florida, and had two children, Todd Richards Palmer and Laurie Anne Palmer. In 1972, the family moved back to Waterville.
Anne went back to college and graduated from University of Maine at Augusta with a BA in nursing. She had a successful career with Maine General Medical Center in nursing. After retirement, she worked in the office at Waterville Burger Corporation the family’s Burger King Franchise.
Anne devoted more than 20 years to serving on the Waterville Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals while championing many community service projects, including the North Street Playground, also known as the Morton A. Brody Playground; South End Skate Park, the city’s first skate park; and the purchase of a new rescue ambulance for the Waterville Fire Department. She single-handedly raised funds for these projects, applying for grants and seeking donations. She donated money left over from the skate park fundraising effort to help improve Moor Street Park in the South End. She also helped raise funds for the Humane Society Waterville Area’s new animal shelter on Webb Road and worked diligently to help restore the Blueberry Hill lookout site in Belgrade.
Mom was a wonderful mother, friend and nurse who brought out and demanded the best in everyone. She set the bar high and was a champion when called upon. She left a big footprint in the Waterville community and will be missed and loved forever.
A celebration of life will be held at Colby College Alumni House on Saturday April, 27, 2024, from 2-4 p.m.
Arrangements are in the care of Lawry Brothers Funeral Home, 107 Main St., Fairfield where memories may be shared, and an online register book signed by visiting http://www.lawrybrothers.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Humane Society
Waterville Area,
100 Webb Road
Waterville, ME 04901
or online at
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