Peyton Lee Palmore, III

My Uncle Peyton and Aunt Lou were instrumental in getting me my job teaching English in Japan. I’ll never forget arriving there after a long flight, finally falling to sleep only to be awakened by Peyton knocking on the hotel door saying “I know you’re up” and taking me to climb Mt. Fuji (didn’t make it to the top that time!). Years later he proudly said he had a proprietary interest in my career since he helped get it started! It was always a treat as a child to await the times Peyton, Lou and the girls came back to the U.S. I always knew Uncle Peyton would bring vibrance and fun to our visits. I love the thought of him on Nojiri-ko since I remember going to the Palmore cabin when I first went in 1973. Thanks for the image Ginger! Congratulation, Uncle Peyton on winning the race. Your niece, Jeanne

Your in our thoughts and prayers. What a wonderful life he led.

Uncle Peyton Lee was my mother’s brother and I have known him all my life. After my high school graduation in India, I visited him in Japan, along with some friends, and was amazed to discover that he had arranged for us to stay overnight at a Buddhist Monastery! Very educational! We also enjoyed our visit with him and Lou at their home. I will always remember Uncle Peyton Lee’s enthusiastic personality and sense of humor. He had a very nice voice and took the time to record himself singing the favorite “Palmore” songs of his youth. Since I know a lot of those songs, I enjoy singing along with him and harmonizing! Remember “Bill Jones Baby”? I will miss you, Uncle Peyton Lee.

All too rarely do you come across someone who is unfailingly kind and gracious to virtually everyone around them, regardless of station. Peyton was one of those rare individuals. Aside from that uncommon quality, I will miss Peyton’s cheerful, positive nature, as I will surely miss his many stories of Japan and his extensive travels with Susan throughout the world. My favorite quote by Abraham Lincoln is, “Death is but an horizon, and an horizon is but the limit of our sight.” Rather than looking at things as Peyton having passed away, I’m going to think of him as now being in some wonderful place, beyond the horizon, away on another great adventure.

What a dear dear person the world has lost. Peyton was an absolute delight to work with his perpetual optimism, positive spirit, and sense of humor made any of our handyman tasks pleasant to tackle together. I will miss him greatly. Peyton was a special member of our Doorways family and I feel so fortunate to have known him and worked with him the last several years. With much love, Susan Hennessy Facilities Manager Doorways for Women and Families

I met Peyton seven years ago when I began serving on the Buildings & Grounds Committee of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. We often needed a good handyman, and Peyton was cited to me as our go-to guy. Each year Peyton did much good work on the campus of St. Andrew’s. He kindly reduced each bill by a ‘10% pastoral discount.’ Peyton and I enjoyed lively conversations, most recently on Laura Hillenbrand’s ‘Unbroken’ and a Japanese performance artist. Rest in peace, dear friend. May your memory be eternal. Jim

Prayers for you all in your loss. Peyton and his willingness to fix anything broken were a blessing to St. Andrew’s Church. He will be missed and I will miss our impromptu God conversations.

Paru-san (Peyton’s Japanese name) was a kind, thoughtful, and generous man. Although my family and I only knew him for the last few years of his long life, he made a lasting impact on us. We got to know Paru-san through his volunteer work with our community Japanese language group for children. Paru-san read traditional Japanese stories to the kids and regaled them with tales of life in old Japan. He remembered all the lullabies and fairy tales from his time as a child there. His knowledge of Japan was encyclopedic and his Japanese language perfect. Paru-san also came and fixed things around our house all the time. Just a few months ago he climbed under our kitchen sink to add a new valve for us. I was amazed how quickly he could come up with a lasting solution to any problem from a stuck closet door to a hole in the bathroom wall. Paru-san was always a pleasure to talk to – full of good cheer and wisdom. He was very interested in other people. He asked many questions and listened intently. When he talked to our two young daughters his face lit up with delight and surprise at their discoveries. I feel truly blessed and very grateful to have known him. He often spoke of Susan and his daughters. He always said how lucky he was to have such a caring family. I wish Susan and the rest of his family strength in their time of need.

Dear Mrs. Palmore, I’m so sorry to hear of your husband’s passing. You are in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. May God continue to bless and keep you and your family. With Deepest Sympathy, Jacquelin Portis-Joyner Arlington Career Center

We are deeply saddened to hear of sudden loss of Payton (Pal-san). He will always be remembered as a great friend and a mentor. We have so many happy memories of spending time with him at Japanese lessons. He have taught us that learning is a big part of what makes life interesting. We will miss him terribly… With much love and sympathy,

Carolee and I extend our condolences to the family of Peyton Palmore. In each of our lives, there are people whose actions alter the course of our life. For me, and for other missionary kids raised in Nagoya in the 1960’s, Peyton Palmore was one of those people. Together with a handful of others, including my father Gaylen Gilbertson, Arlene Kelly, Stan Manierre, Clark Offner, Claire Baldwin and others, he was a “founder” of Nagoya International School, which became the center of our ex-pat community in Nagoya. Without NIS, the course of my life would have been very different. No doubt, my family would have moved back to the U.S., and my “Japan connection” would have been broken, leading to a very different career and life. More importantly, I probably would not have met my wife Carolee Matsumoto, since NIS was our original connection. So thank you, Mr. Palmore! I have many memories of “Mr. Palmore,” as we knew him in those days. Just one is that it was he who called us on the morning of November 23, 1963 (Japan time) to tell us of the assassination of President Kennedy. In the past two years, Carolee and I were privileged to visit with Peyton and Susan a couple of times at their Arlington home. Having only known Peyton, an “adult,” when I myself was a “kid,” it was fun now to speak to him “man-to-man.” I think he got a kick out of that too! We focused on his memories of NIS, but our conversations were wide-ranging. I learned a lot about the early missionaries to Japan, and Peyton’s own story. Unfortunately, the conversations were much too short. Peyton was pleased to hear that his beloved sailboat “Soyokaze” is still at Lake Nojiri, and in the good hands of my brother Loren. “Soyokaze” translates as “light breeze.” No doubt, Peyton is out there enjoying a light breeze as he sails to the other side of eternity. Farewell Mr. Palmore! You were a good man with a big heart, and will certainly rest in peace.

We are truly saddened by the sudden loss of Peyton, especially after seeing him on Christmas morning when he seemed so chipper. Weve known Peyton and Susan for close to 30 years. We have utilized Peytons handyman skills at our home to finish the octagonal windows in the storage shed, to build the space under the stairs, and to repair numerous projects over the years. He always made coming to fix something at our home a priority which was greatly appreciated. He also repaired so many things over the years in the Teenage Parenting Program of Arlington Public Schools. His quick smile, firm hugs, and zest for life will be missed.