Clara Maurine Turner
March 15, 1934 – December 15, 2020
Clara Turner passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on December 15th in Edmond, Oklahoma.
Clara was born in Anthony, Kansas on March 15, 1934 to William and Hazel Holder. Clara and her siblings were foster kids due to her parent’s divorce. She and her sister Ruth were taken in by Wilfred and Delight Young and they had a wonderful life on the farm in southern Kansas. The Youngs added a new son, Carl to complete the family. After high school, Clara moved to Wichita, Kansas where she met the love of her life, Richard Dean Turner. Richard Dean Turner was also born in Anthony, Kansas and discovered later, they were both delivered by the same doctor 3 years apart. They were married in August of 1955 and began a whirlwind life in the Air Force. They had three children – David, Robin, and Richard. After graduate school, Richard was transferred to England where they spent 3.5 years at two different locations. Further assignments took them to Ohio, Turkey, Texas, California, and Michigan. During those assignments, Richard went to Vietnam and Korea on solo assignments. At every location, Clara took charge in setting up the home and taking care of the children. This included cultural outings, taking full advantage of the location – whether overseas or stateside – and sightseeing to ensure a broad education for her kids. They traveled extensively while in England and Turkey, including highlights like Stonehenge, a week-long river boat excursion, and seeing the Queen of England once while observing the changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. While in Turkey, they toured the Seven Churches, camped on the Mediterranean Sea, vacationed on the Black Sea, the Aegean Sea, the Sea of Marmara In Istanbul, and visiting the ancient city in Cappadocia. Clara made sure that her family was first and foremost in every situation and experienced life to its fullest. She led the family on adventure after adventure.
Clara was amazing in many ways. She was totally genuine and had no pretense or agenda. She was kind and compassionate and was devoted to God, her husband, and her family. She proved it daily as a compassionate mother, a loving wife, a true and great friend, and a Godly woman. The strongest characteristic Clara had was her sense of humor. She turned everything into fun. She was the first to laugh and the first to make others laugh. She was unconventional in a conventional world. She was able to assume whatever role she needed to as an Officer’s wife or as a fun-loving mom. Everyone who knew Clara, felt that special bond with a unique and amazing woman. She was the rock to her husband, a harbor to her children, and a dedicated friend.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Dean Turner, her parents and foster parents, her sisters, Ruth and Verla and her brothers, Elmer and Jimmy.
She is survived by her children and their spouses, David and Marja Leena Turner, Robin and George Hulsizer, and Richard and Jennifer Turner, her brothers, Ben Holder and Carl Young, ten grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. She has numerous nieces and nephews.
Clara was wonderful woman gifted with compassion, kindness, joy, humor, and giving. Heaven is rejoicing and so is her family and friends as they remember how she added love and enchantment to the time on earth shared with her.
A public visitation will be held at Matthews Funeral Home on Sunday, December 20 from 3:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.
Services will be held at Memorial Park Cemetery Historic Chapel on Monday, December 21 at 10:00 A.M.