Marion C. Turner, 85, a lifelong resident of the Mad River Valley, passed away peacefully at Rowan Court Nursing Home in Barre on Thursday, August 6, 2015, following several years of declining health. Born in Fayston on March 8, 1930, she was the daughter of the late Donald R. and Ruth (Fuller) Cota. On November 5, 1949, she married Albert J. Turner in Warren. Albert predeceased Marion on October 23, 1997.
Marion was a 1948 graduate of Waitsfield High School and continued her education for a year at the former Fanny Allen Hospital School of Nursing. Following her marriage, Marion dedicated her life to helping her husband on the family dairy farm (Simplicity Farm) in Waitsfield, raising her six children as well as serving her church and community.
A longtime member of the Waitsfield Cemetery Commission, Marion served as cemetery sexton for over two decades. In addition, Marion held memberships in the Vermont Cemetery Association and the Vermont Old Cemetery Association whose mission was to identify and help restore old burial grounds. A member of Waitsfield Federated Church for many years (now Waitsfield United Church of Christ), Marion served on the Federated board for six years. Active in the Waitsfield High School Alumni Association, she enjoyed working and organizing the alumni banquets.
Marion had many wide-ranging interests that included genealogy, Mad River Valley and Vermont history, flower gardening, doing puzzles such as jigsaw, Sudoku and crossword, was an avid reader, loved watching television game shows, golf tournaments, horse racing as well as rodeos and bull riding competitions.
Marion is lovingly remembered for her devotion to her husband, children, her 12 grandchildren and their families, and her large and extended Cota family.
Marion is loved and mourned by her children, Elaine Turner of West Des Moines, Idaho, Lawrence Turner and his wife Charlene of Moira, New York, Paul Turner of Denver, Colorado, Douglas Turner and his wife Sharon of Waitsfield, Edward Turner of Waitsfield, and Kenneth Turner and his wife Amy of Plattsburgh, New York; 12 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Bruce Cota and his wife Helen of Waitsfield and Craig Cota and his wife Joan of Stockbridge; as well as nieces, nephews and extended family. Marion was predeceased by a brother, Lyle Cota, and a great-granddaughter, Emma Ruth Fontaine.
A service to celebrate the life of Marion Turner will be held from Waitsfield United Church of Christ on Saturday, August 15, 2015, at 11 a.m. with a reception to follow in the church dining room. Inurnment will take place in the Berlin Corners Cemetery. For those who wish, memorial gifts would be appreciated to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (www.michaeljfox.org). Assisting the family is Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury. To send online condolences please visit www.perkinsparker.com.
