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Joanna Turner Obituary
Joanna Mae Turner, 63, was born in the Navy hospital in Newport, RI on June 17, 1947 to Laurence Harrison and Joanna Joyce Lightfoot. Married to Roy Edwin "Eddie" Turner Jr. April 1, 1966. Passed peacefully on March 18, 2011. She had a very happy and complete life. She is survived by her husband and sons Brian and Brad and their wives Allison and Katherine. She was an amazing selfless woman who was loving, caring, and giving to all those around her. Her passion was her family. Her focus was to love and help her boys and loving husband. She loved her dogs. She loved to read. Her family and friends will miss her dearly. She will be remembered in a committal service on April 8, 2011 at 10:30AM at the National Memorial Veteran Cemetery 23029 N. Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix, AZ.
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Memories and Condolences
for Joanna Turner
Joycelyn Lightfoot
April 1, 2019
Josie will never be forgotten. We shared so many mischievous moments and shared so many thoughts. We did lose touch, but she crossed my mind so very often. I lost her brother, my husband Larry, on Feb. 21, 2017. He spoke of her frequently. Bless you all, love, Joyce Lightfoot
Ann Woodle
April 1, 2019
Never forgotten, love you always. The best of memories
Eddie
June 17, 2011
Happy Birthday Josie
I will love you always...
Josie and Brother Bob
Eddie
May 13, 2011
Josie and Aunt Fama
Eddie
May 13, 2011
Eddie
May 2, 2011
Family first, always – husband Eddie, Sons Brian and Brad
Birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas were very special to Josie because the family was together with her
Loved her parents and specially brother Bob, and Aunt Fama as her own mother
She loved her friends and was caring and helpful to them
Dogs Strike and Sheila -- she loved and cared for like children
Loved her home here in Phoenix – didn’t want to be anywhere else, even vacation had to drag her to them and then only for a few days
Loved to walk on and sit at the beach – San Diego, La Jolla, Cape Cod, New York Jones Beach, North Carolina – anywhere
She has a beautiful shell collection of found and bought shells, some displayed in a case in the home entryway
Loved Light Houses – like Cabrillo in San Diego
Loved clouds and to listen to and smell the rain
Loved to read – she had her favorite authors – James Michener, Jodi Picoult, Cook, Grisham, Follett,
Loved her Grandmother Marrs’ paintings
Loved to play the slot machines – and she won more than lost – a lucky lady
Loved Monopoly best, but other board and card games too
Loved foot messages
Loved her Bougainvillea and Hibiscus flowers
Loved to eat lunch at her favorite restaurants – Chili's, Red Lobster, In and Out Berger, Paradise Bakery, Mimi’s, Islands, Olive Garden
Loved knitting blankets for the animal shelter with her friend Vicki
Loved talking to her friends on the phone and specially Email when the Internet was invented
“Joanna was all anyone could ever ask for in a friend. She is sorely missed and never forgotten. She has inspired me to try to be the kind of friend that she has been for me.”
--- Christy
“...been thinking about how I would describe Josie and the thing that always comes to mind is what a gentle person she was and such a loving soul. She faced all of life's challenges with strength and took it all in stride. That is a remarkable woman who can do that and still stay the loving gentle person she was.” --- Ann
“Josie holds such a special place in my heart and our children's too. Even though they never got to meet her, they always remarked how special she was to always remember the special days in their lives. With our deepest sympathy and love and prayers, Karen and Dudley “
Harrison Lightfoot
April 18, 2011
My niece, Josie was a sweet and good person, wife, mother,sister and daughter. She will be missed by all.
April 15, 2011
Dear Eddie, Brian and Brad, Josie had 2 brothers who had and have terrific memories of growing up in Navy bases, traveling in planes with engines on fire, and less exciting times, but happy none the less. What a shock to hear of her death. Your niece Beth has had a fight with breast cancer too, we can truly feel your pain. I was thinking of her more than usual recently and especially on April 1st. With love and sadness,
Larry and Joyce Lightfoot
El Centro, Ca.
Ann Woodle
April 9, 2011
I am so lucky to have had such a wonderful friend for so long and I shall miss her dearly. You both helped me through dark times as well as good times, and provided a friendship that was 40 years strong, including the birth and life of all our children. Prayers for healing now Eddie, Brian, Brad, and your families. Love always, Ann
April 9, 2011
Its just not the same at Red Lobster without Joanna and Eddie too wait on.I miss you both alot.Two of my favorite customers. Joanna and Eddie were there in times of need. Couldn"t have done it without them. Their encourageing advice. Miss you both and Love you both. Your Favorite Waitress Patti Ann
Josie and Eddie
Eddie
April 8, 2011
Josie and Brad
Eddie
April 8, 2011
Josie and Brian
Eddie
April 8, 2011
Josie happy with her sons - Brad and Brian
Eddie Turner
April 8, 2011
The Story of Josie Turner
Joanna Mae Turner – Josie – an amazing woman – a loving and devoted wife – a loving, caring and nurturing mother – loved her family – deeply cared for her friends – will be missed by all who knew her...
As a young girl she played on the beaches of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and San Diego, California where her family would go for evening cookouts her father did on an open fire with fish he had caught and corn on the cob.
She sewed her own dresses in high school and was an excellent student who was a “Letter Girl” at the football games. Her brother Bob would take her to school in his ’57 Chevy. She loved to dance and lay in the sun in Coachella and get dark tans. Eddie met her there and fell in love at first sight and talked with her through the night after working in a gas station until midnight. Eddie then left for school in San Luis Obispo, California.
After graduating high school in three years – I said she was smart – she worked at an old fashion drug store soda fountain in Indio where she had to pay a taxi to take her the 5 miles from home to work. She then worked as a secretary for a paper company. She bought a used car – ’56 Ford Crown Victoria Blue and White – and moved to San Diego where she worked for the news paper as a “girl Friday”. This is where Eddie comes back into the picture as he was at the US Navy Hospital as a Corpsman student. They married after the school was completed and he was stationed at the same hospital. Only seven months later, Eddie was sent to Viet Nam and Josie moved back to Indio and worked at the phone company with her friend Annie and lived with Eddie’s Mom, sister and brother. Josie wrote a letter every single day to Eddie and his first “mail call” he got 20 letters.
The thoughts of Josie and those letters are the reason Eddie was motivated to survive and return to her loving arms.
She went with Eddie to San Leandro, CA and then Tucson, AZ – to finish college - and Denver, CO, Davenport, Iowa – Annandale, VA (where Brian was born at Fairfax Hospital in 1973) – and Raleigh, NC and Tallahassee, FL – and Frankfort, KY – and back to Springfield, VA (where Brad was born in the same Fairfax Hospital in 1981) – and then back out west to Santa Fe, New Mexico so she could travel 12 hours driving to visit her mother dying of cancer in California. Then we were off to Albany, NY for one last stop on the “Adventures in Moving” travel about the country for the sake of a good retirement check in the end.
These are but places and events like you might keep in a log book – but at each place Josie touched people and left her kindness and caring behind with them.
Back in Phoenix Josie found a home she could love until the end of time – which she did. Josie’s boys are here and she is happy... she has friends in Phoenix and the other parts of the country...they will all miss her Emails, phone calls and Christmas cards she was so faithful to send and happy to receive...She has friends from her days in San Leandro 42 years ago, Paul and Betty, who came to visit her during the last weeks...she had a big smile for them...and for her new friends Marcee and Patti... Her friend Ann of 40 years also will miss her Emails and calls...
But, most of all she loved and cherished her boys – Brian and Brad (she called Bradley Bear for many years).
They were the shining stars and the universe in her life – she was eager to hear their voices or see their faces – she was extremely happy when they too found wives to love and be loved. She was very, very proud that her boys have created a place for themselves and are so, so independent that she knows they will be safe and happy throughout their lives -- She said she could leave this life knowing that.
We will always have our memories of Josie – big smile – bright eyes –gentle hands -- kind words – laughter – hugs and kisses --
We will never forget our memories of Josie...fair thee well our amazing woman...
April 8, 2011
Josie was always a "bright spot" in our family. She was always there when needed, and always there for her family. We will miss her dearly. Thanks Eddie for letting us share. Dolores Bangle (Summerville, SC)
April 8, 2011
I have never known anyone who knew so well how to be a true friend. Joanna always had time to give encouragement and get me laughing again when things were down. Working together with her made it far more fun than it would've been otherwise. She also was a friend to my cats and made them each wonderful soft plushy blankets, which makes me smile even now. I miss her so.
Love,
Christy
April 7, 2011
Eddie, thank you for sharing so many thoughts of love and devotion to your Josie. If ever two people were made for one another, clearly it was the two of you. Her loss will be felt deeply because of the place she held in so many lives. My dear cousin, allow others to comfort you and give you strength.
Love you, Jeannie
D. Jean Bailey, Fort Worth, TX
Katherine Turner
April 7, 2011
Josie was a wonderful person, I am honored to be her daughter-in-law and that she accepted me into her family with open arms. I am going to miss her everday.
Love,
Katherine (Kat) Turner
Karen Brown
April 7, 2011
What a truly devoted friend she was to our family for over 33 years. Stayed in touch no matter where she moved and never missed important dates in our lives. Always had so many wonderful things to say about her children and husband and loved her dogs too. She was so good to stay up-to-date on our family and shared great stories about her family. I know all three of you will miss her so very much! I will miss Josie too!
Karen Brown and family
Frances Keltner
April 7, 2011
Josie was a wonderful woman and we are so saddened about her death. It is truly a loss for all of us.
I still remember going shopping for Katherine's wedding dress. We had such fun! She was so welcoming to my daughter; and so excited at the prospect of Katherine becoming a part of your family. She was kind, sweet and thoughtful. Josie was such a blessing!
Love,
Frances Keltner and Chris Saar
Jan & Mike Sayer
April 7, 2011
Josie was a sweetheart. I feel so blessed to have her as my cuz, and on the other end of all our emails over the years. She always kept me up to date with pictures and stories about Eddie and the boys and their race car:) She was so proud! She certainly loved her guys. She so loved her doggies too. She and I shared our feelings about our 4 legged friends. We both felt the same about 'leaving them for too long' if we were going to travel. I love her, I will miss her terribly but she is in my heart forever. Much love to Eddie, Brian and Brad. You guys are in our thoughts at this sad and difficult time.
Our love,
Jan, Mike and family
April 7, 2011
If words could describe how wonderful a person is, Eddie has used them all to allow me to see the woman he has so dearly loved. With each of his correspondences, Eddie expressed his devotion to his Josie. We reach a point where words leave us wanting to see and know what inspires so much love. Sadly, I heard her laughter only once, but it spoke volumes of the truth in Eddie's WORDS.
Peace to you my cousin and friend. Jeannie Bailey, Fort Worth, TX
Marilyn Lightfoot
April 7, 2011
Eddie,
She really was a wonderful woman. She helped me survive after I lost Bob. I miss her everytime I check my email. Her love for you, her boys and her dogs was very clear. It will take time, but you will get better.
Love,
Marilyn
Sylvia Magnussen
April 7, 2011
Josie had a heart as big as Texas. She would do anything to help you out. She opened her house to our son Shane so he could attend school an earn his certificate in mechanics. Mom and Dad loved her like a daughter. I would like to think of her like a sister. She will be missed. She has a wonderful husband and two great sons to carry on her legacy. They are in my thoughts daily and I wish them well.
Dr. Steve Purtell
April 7, 2011
Roy,
We were all saddened to hear about Joanna.She was like a ray of sunshine when she entered our office and we looked forward to her visits. Our thought and prayers are with you at this very difficult time.
Our heartfelt regards,
Dr. Purtell & Staff
Always Love You
Roy Turner
April 7, 2011
We will always have our memories of Josie - big smile - bright eyes -- gentle hands -- kind words -- laughter -- hugs and kisses --
We will never forget our memories of Josie...fair thee well our amazing woman...
Eddie
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