Photo courtesy of Hawthorne Funeral Home - Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon, Washington
Dec 29, 1942 – Dec 30, 2022
Sally C. Turner spent her last day celebrating her 80th birthday with her family prior to her passing on December 30, 2022.
Born December 29, 1942, the eldest child of Russell and Fern Pyke of Everett, WA. Sally spent hours exploring the outdoors and helping her dad with his logging business. Sally graduated from Auburn Adventist Academy in 1961, and soon began her decades-long career in nursing. She worked at Northern State Hospital while attending Skagit Valley Community College to earn her LPN. Later she pursued her RN degree.
Sally met William Duncan while he was stationed at Whidbey Island. They were married in 1972 in Mount Vernon, WA. The young couple moved several times before settling in Burlington, WA with their two children Bill and Nicole. Sally was an active volunteer in the now North Cascade SDA church sharing her talents by teaching cooking classes and taking a leadership role in the Pathfinders, a youth group in which her children participated. Sally is known for her green thumb, flower arranging, and cake decorating. She had a quick wit and a great laugh that never left her.
In 1993, Sally married Donnie Turner, and relocated to Anchorage, AK. The couple returned to Skagit Valley in 1997 where both eventually retired from their respective careers. Retirement gave Sally time to pursue her favorite pastimes: birdwatching, growing flowers and spoiling her grandchildren. She touched several lives through her generosity, kindness, and her faith in Christ.
Sally was preceded in death by her husband’s William Duncan (1981) and Donnie Turner (2020), her parents Russell and Fern Pyke and brother Bruce Pyke. Her legacy continues in the cherished memories held by her children Bill Duncan and Nicole (Kenneth) Turner; Donnie’s children Mark and Janet Turner, Teresa Turner, Becky and David Blakely, and Matthew Turner. Grandchildren Kenneth and Cole Turner, Darren and Elizabeth Turner, and Imagin Baker. Other survivors include her sister Nancy Topham, as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
A memorial will be held on January 16, 2023, at 1:00pm at the North Cascade SDA Church, Burlington.
In lieu of flowers please consider donating to Maranatha Volunteers International or Big Lake Fire Department.
Please visit www.hawthornefh.com to share your thoughts and memories and sign the online guest register.
Arrangements are under the care of Hawthorne Funeral Home, Mount Vernon, WA.
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Sally at Chiluly Gardens in Seattle.
Nikki Turner
January 14, 2023 | Mount Vernon, WA | Daughter
Wonderful memories with her at Auburn Adventist Academy in the Class of ‘61. Her positive attitude and infectious laugh would brighten my day. Look forward to spending eternity with her. Condolences to Bill, Nicki and other family members.
Diane Hilde Pearson
January 12, 2023 | Yuma, AZ | Classmate
To know Sally was to be truly blessed. She had a way about her that even upon a first meeting she made you feel you’d known her a lifetime. She was compassionate, filled with grace and had a heart that knew no bounds.
After hearing of a change in my circumstances, Sally selflessly found things she thought or knew that I was without. I will forever cherish her antique vanity she gifted me as well as all of the recipes from the cooking class she signed me up for.
Nic’, Bill, the...
Vanessa Perez
January 05, 2023 | Avondale, AZ
Sally was a very special person. She worked with my mother. At United general hospital. So that is how I came to know Sally! I have a few of her wonderful recipes! They are some of my family favorite. We also took a classes about vegetarian cooking for Sally and a few other. Great teacher. I was just thinking about her the other day. I worked with Donnie for years so we became friends. I will miss both of them.
Bonnie Irish
January 04, 2023 | Sedro Woolley, WA | Friend
I lived across the hall from Sally in high school and we graduated in the same class. I will never forget her contagious laughter. She worked hard on the celebration of our 40th class reunion.
She had such a good heart and was a real ray of sunshine!!
Yvonne Gibbons Jackson
AA class of 1961.
January 04, 2023
