Elizabeth Meisinger

(From Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary)

Elizabeth Meisinger passed into eternal rest at 11 p.m. on 18 March after a long illness. Mary Elizabeth Palmer was born to Harry C. and Vera (Vandiver) Palmer on July 23, 1942 in Joplin, MO. She grew up in Joplin, graduating from Joplin High School in 1960.

Elizabeth was a loving wife and mother. She was also a musician and educator for most of her life. A graduate of San Francisco State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music in 1967. She received her education certification from Missouri Southern State University, then known as Missouri Southern State College, in 1970.

Elizabeth met her husband Kenneth in 1970 while both were music teachers in Rock Port, MO. In 1974, Elizabeth started the strings program in Blue Springs, MO. Kenneth started graduate school at UMKC. The family moved to Harrisonburg, Virginia, in 1979 where both were employed at James Madison University, Elizabeth in the Music Library and Kenneth in the Music Department. In 1986, they moved to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to teach music at the Saudi Arabian International School – Riyadh (American Section). Elizabeth started the strings program at SAIS-R in 1988. Over the course of nine years the program became known internationally for its size and excellence.

It was during those years in Saudi Arabia that Elizabeth developed her real passion for teaching and performing. Her students regularly auditioned and were chosen to participate in the International Schools’ Honor Orchestras in Europe. She participated in several International Strings Workshops Orchestras serving as Principal Violist. In 1997, she and her husband took a year, self-imposed sabbatical in England. During that year Elizabeth participated in the American String Teachers Association’s People to People Project in China.

In 1998, she and her husband moved to Joplin where they opened Palmer-Meisinger Music Studios. In addition to her teaching duties, Elizabeth played Principal 2nd Violin with the Chamber Orchestra of the Ozarks in Springfield and Principal Viola in the MSSU Community Orchestra. She also played section viola with the Ft. Smith Symphony, recording three CDs on the Naxos label of William Grant Still’s music. Elizabeth also played strings chamber music throughout Southwest Missouri. She served Pro Musica in Joplin for five years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry C. Palmer and Vera (Vandiver) Palmer, “Uncle” Lyle Shrouf and a son, Kevin.

She is survived by her husband, Kenneth Meisinger, of Joplin; son and daughter-in-law, Aaron and Jenny, of Drayden, MD; brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Ruta Palmer, of Plymouth, MN; a nephew, Christopher Palmer of San Francisco, CA, and a niece Leah Palmer of Eagan, MN; and four grandchildren; Ian and Katia of California, MD, and Fiona and Lila, both age 4, of Drayden, MD.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, March 24, 2016 at the Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary with Reverend Eric Halvorson officiating; burial will follow in the Lake Cemetery in Lamar, MO. The family will receive friends from 6-7:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 23, 2016 at the mortuary. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made in Elizabeth’s honor to Three Rivers Hospice of Mt. Vernon, Pro Musica of Joplin, National Public Radio, KRPS-FM, Pittsburg, KS or Ozarks Public Television, KOZJ-TV, Joplin, and contributions may be left at the mortuary. Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of the Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary in Joplin, Missouri.