Anna Marie Turner

Anna Marie Turner died on June 24, 2018, leaving from Tulsa, Okla., where she lived the past

5 years.

She was born on

Sept. 22, 1935, in Barling,

Ark., to Charlie and Gerturde Maledon, and had nine siblings.

She was raised in Charleston, Ark. She married Dr. Jerry Turner in 1955, who served as Superintendent of Prairie Grove schools until his death in 1972. She was the mother of three children, Kyle, Kelley and Kirk. After Jerry passed away, she earned a Bachelors’ and Masters’ degree in Education from the University of Arkansas, while working full time at Ramey Jr. High and raising three children by herself. She attended all of her kids’ sporting, academic and social activities and prepared them well for life after high school.

She began her teaching career at Prairie Grove Elementary School in 1974 and taught kindergarten in Prairie Grove for more than 30 years before her retirement. She loved teaching, inspiring, motivating and improving the lives of children. She positively influenced thousands of young men and women over the years.

She loved the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Prairie Grove Tigers. She rarely missed watching a football or basketball game of her favorite teams. She loved having her kids’ friends over to her home, which she affectionately referred to as “Grand Central Station.” She was a woman of great faith, always willing to help those in need.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charlie and Gertrude Maledon of Charleston, Ark.; her husband, Dr. Jerry Turner; her son, Kyle Turner; and her siblings, Theresa Opersteny, Frances Weir, Alice Labrosse, Clara Maledon, Paul Maledon, Tony Maledon, Louis Maledon, and Vincent Maledon.

Survivors include her son, Kirk and his wife, Nancy, of Tulsa; her daughter, Kelley and her husband, Damon, of New Lima, Okla.; three grandchildren, Zachary and Joshua Turner of Tulsa and Mikala Forshee of New Lima; and one sister, Irma Alstatt and her husband, Shirney, of Fort Smith, Ark.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Thursday, June 28, 2018, at Luginbuel Chapel in Prairie Grove, Ark. Anna will be laid to rest with her husband, Jerry, at National Cemetery in Fayetteville, Ark.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Prairie Grove Elementary School to help provide teachers’ resources for their classrooms. Donations should be sent to the Anna Turner Memorial Fund c/o Prairie Grove School District 300, Ed Staggs Drive, Prairie Grove, AR 72753.

Online guestbook: www. luginbuel.com.

Luginbuel Funeral Home in Prairie Grove was in charge of arrangements.

Turner