Marjory Olive Turner

DECATUR - Marjory Olive (Coppenbarger) Turner, 83, of Rock Island, Illinois, died Saturday, November 10, 2007, at Heartland Health Care Center, Moline, Illinois, surrounded by her husband and family. A visitation will be held on Sunday, November 11, from 2:00-5:00 p.m. at Trimble Funeral and Cremation Center, 601-21st Street, Moline. The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 12, at First Baptist Church, 1901-29th Street, Moline. Another brief visitation will be held at the church before the funeral from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Family and friends are also invited to stay for a dinner in the Fellowship Hall at the church. Per Marjory's prearranged wishes, following the funeral, her body will be donated to the University of Iowa College of Medicine for medical teaching and research purposes. Interment rites with American Legion Post #246 will occur at a date in the future in Rock Island National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, Moline, Illinois, in her memory. Marjory Olive Coppenbarger was born January 1, 1924, in Decatur, Illinois, the daughter of Ora Frank and Ida Belle (Shewmaker) Coppenbarger. She graduated from Stephen Decatur High School in January 1942. In July of 1942 she answered a call to serve her country and moved to Washington, D.C. to work as a stenographer in the U.S. Post Office. It was during that time that she met and fell in love with Joseph Clyde (J.C.) Turner from Alabama, who was serving in the U.S. Navy. They were married in Ozark, Alabama, on January 26, 1944. Easter Morning of that same year, J.C. sailed from San Francisco Bay headed for the South Pacific, and Marjory later joined the Women's Army Corps. She received surgical medical training at Beaumont Hospital in El Paso, Texas and then worked at Walter Reed General Hospital in Washington, D.C. After the war, the couple moved to Decatur, Illinois. While raising a growing family, in 1956 Marjory received her bachelor's degree at Millikin University and then taught at Durfee School in Decatur. In 1962 the Turner family moved to Rock Island, Illinois, where Marjory taught at Coal Valley Elementary, Garfield, Ericsson, and Washington Schools in Moline until retirement in 1984. She was a member of the National Education Association, the Illinois Education Association, American Baptist Women, and American Legion Auxiliary. She touched students and colleagues alike with her energy for teaching and her innovative ideas. After retirement she remained active through volunteer literacy tutoring activities with Project Now. Always a devoted mother, grandmother, and wife, she served as a Brownie Leader, Girl Scout Leader, Cub Scout Leader, PTA Room Mother, choir member, square dancer, Jazzerciser, aqua aerobics participant, and occasional golfer, skier, and dog-sledder. Margie enjoyed gardening, sewing, needlecrafts, language games, and singing familiar songs that her children and grandchildren will remember for their lifetimes. Marjory was filled with a remarkable knowledge of geography and traveled with her husband and family to every state of the United States; as well as Canada, Mexico, Germany, Italy, France, England, Denmark, Holland, Sweden, Lichtenstein, and Norway. Marge is survived by her husband of 63 years, Joseph Clyde (J.C.) Turner; daughters, Kellun Turner (Mike Boggess) of Denver, Colorado, Nancy Slattery (Jim deceased November 2006) of Bloomington, Illinois, Dr. Kathy Novota (David Mejia) of Louisville, Kentucky, Ellen Ryan (Pat) of Davenport, Iowa, and son Dr. Wes Turner (Lisa) of Eagle River, Alaska; 11 grandchildren, Summer, Sierra, and Allegra Boggess, Jamie Winchell, Greg Myers, Heidi Fletcher, Heather Curry, Margo, Ariel, and Danny Mejia, Aubrey and Galen Ryan, Xinghua and Jiale Turner; 5 great-grandchildren, Nathan Novota, Maya and Ava Curry, Colby Fletcher, and Caleb Micho; and several nieces and nephews. She is also survived by a beloved niece & sister, Anne (Coppenbarger) Briggs of Homewood, Illinois. Marjory was preceded in death by her parents, her infant sister, Ora Ellen Coppenbarger, and her brothers, Roy Ivan and William Eldon Coppenbarger. Marjory's family invites friends to sign her guestbook, share a story or light a candle in her memory at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com. Obituary written by family members. Online guest book at www.legacy.com/herald-review/Obituaries.asp