Fayre Mae Turner

Turner, Fayre Mae Cotner
a longtime resident of Chandler, AZ, passed away after a brief illness on Sunday, April 12, 2015 in Chandler. She was born on May 15, 1927 in Dent County, Salem, Missouri to Roy Buford and Hilda Constance Cotner. She married the love of her life Leonard Eugene Turner on Nov. 30, 1946 and they had four children. She is preceded in death by her loving parents, her husband, her son Terry; and her sister, Judith J. Mueller of St. Louis, MO and son-in-law, Charles (Tyke) Webster. She is survived by daughters, Sandra Lynn Webster of Nashville, TN, and Connie Marie Williams (Robert) of Chandler, AZ, and son, Tommy Neil Turner of Phoenix, AZ; two grandsons: John Webster (Lisa) of Scottsdale, AZ, and Kirt Webster (Jeremy Westby) of Nashville; four granddaughters: Jennifer Todd Klages (Dale Campbell) of Chandler; Alethea Kelly Esq. (Reece) of East Liverpool, OH, Trina Bates (Adam) of Chandler, and Natasha Chan (Adler) of Fremont, CA, and one step-granddaughter, Patricia of Chandler; seven great-granddaughters: Autumn, Jaimie, Madisyn, Elly, Emma, Phaedra and Penelope; and one step-great-granddaughter, Kayla, along with two great grandsons, Shawn and Lincoln. She is also survived by her loving brother, James A. Cotner of Salem, MO; sister-in-law Lila M. Simmons of Huntsville, AL, and brothers-in-law, Gerald C. Mueller of St. Louis, and Myron D. Bennett (Marcelle) of Columbia, MO, along with 28 nieces and nephews. She taught English as a school teacher, and in the early 40's studied the assimilation of African-Americans into the Caucasian community in St. Louis, MO. She was a strong proponent of the Civil Rights movement and later was the lead chemist for Spreckles Sugar Co. in Chandler. She lived in the Phoenix area since moving there from Edwards Air Force Base in California in 1966 while her husband was stationed in Vietnam. She was an active member in the Women's Auxiliary of the American Legion Post 35, a member of the 8 and 40, the V.F.W. and an honorary member of the Elks Lodge in Chandler. She was a relation of Julia Boggs Dent, wife of Ulysses S. Grant, eighteenth President of the United States. She enjoyed a good laugh and had an exceptionally dry and sophisticated sense of humor, which her family inherited, and was very proud of all the accomplishments of her children and grandchildren. She had a long and eventful life while on this earth, experiencing highs and lows, happy and sad times. It was, as she once stated, "a very good life." Grief is the ultimate price we pay for Love. Visitation is planned for Fri., Apr. 17, from 4:30-7:00 pm at Bueler Chandler Mortuary, 14 W. Hulet Dr. Chandler. Services will be Sat., Apr. 18, at 10:30 am, also at the mortuary. Interment will follow at Valley of the Sun Memorial Cemetery, where she will be laid to rest alongside her husband and son. Contributions in her name may be made to the Disabled Veterans of Arizona or the Arizona Human Rights Campaign Fund.