Lee Palmer, 68, of Lake Wales, passed away Aug. 24, 2012, after a long fight with multiple sclerosis.

Lee was born Feb. 22, 1944, in Dearborn, Mich., and spent her childhood in Ocala. In 1979 she was a member of the first graduating class of the University of Florida’s College of Medicine as a physician assistant. Upon her graduating she moved to Bartow.

In 1984 she opened Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Services of Bartow to help the multiple sclerosis community fight the disease. In 2002 the business was closed.

She was a member of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church of Bartow and carried her faith till the end. She was a former board member of the Bartow Chamber of Commerce; past president, Undersea Hyperbaric Medical Society; past president, Bartow Crickette Club; director of Hyperbaric Medicine for Bartow Memorial Hospital; member of L.B. Brown Restoration Committee; speaker and writer for National MS Society; member, planning committee for Polk County Transportation Board; member, Lake Wales Breakfast Rotary Club; Tuesday Meal Ministry volunteer; and member of Habitat Partner’s Council, Lake Wales Historic Preservation Board, and Babson Park Community Church Tutoring Program.

Mrs. Palmer is survived by her loving children: daughter Jillian Palmer, son Josh Palmer and wife Jessica, and two grandchildren, Kaleigh and Hudson Lee, all of Bartow; and longtime friend, Brian Palmer.

Memorial service: Thursday, Aug. 30, at 3 p.m., at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home, Bartow.

Memorials may be made to National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Mid Florida Chapter, 2701 Maitland Center Parkway, Suite 100, Maitland, FL 32751.

Condolences to the family may be made at www.whiddenmcleanfuneral
home.com.