Mary Turner Spencer Kobler

Mary Turner was born to Jennie Ree and Hugh Frank Spencer in Minden, Louisiana, at a time when everyone in the South had two first names. Her older brother, Hugh Frank Jr., was known as Bud. In early life she was called Mary Turner, but when she went away to college she became simply Turner.

She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Louisiana State University in 1951. There she met Jasper Fred Kobler, aka Jake, whom she married the same year. Although the marriage ended in divorce, it produced two daughters, Laura and Linda, as well as many trips abroad and around the US, quite a few faculty parties, and lots and lots of bridge.

Soon after their marriage, Turner and Jake moved to Washington, DC, where Turner was trained in Russian and worked for the federal government translating intercepted Soviet radio communiqués. She lamented that, most of the time, it was really quite dull. She found her previous job as a police reporter in Baton Rouge much more interesting.

In 1961, Turner received her Master of Arts degree in English from the University of Houston and began doctoral studies at the University of Texas. The family moved to Denton, Texas, in 1964. (Turner would remain in Denton for the rest of her life, except for a semester on exchange with Farah Pahlavi University in Tehran and a brief move to Addison to be closer to Dallas's shops and theaters.) While completing her dissertation in comparative literature on the works of Anton Chekov, which she read in Russian, Turner taught at Arlington State College. Upon earning her PhD in 1968, she joined the faculty of Texas Woman's University; she would remain in TWU's Department of English and Foreign Languages until her retirement in 1996.

In 1994, Dr. Kobler was honored with TWU's annual Cornaro Award, which recognizes excellence in teaching, research, and service to the university. While active on university committees and in professional organizations like Delta Kappa Gamma, the American Association of University Women, and the Conference of College Teachers of English, she never aspired to be a department chair or a dean. She remained instead a dedicated teacher who nurtured and inspired both graduate and undergraduate students. She encouraged younger students by judging televised spelling bees and essays written by students in the Denton ISD. She served on the Denton Public Library Board, advancing library outreach to encourage reading and knowledge.

Upon retirement, Turner traveled more extensively, touring the eastern Mediterranean and Scandinavia, visiting New York and London for the theater and opera, and riding a train across Canada. When she could no longer travel, she continued to participate in local clubs and organizations like the League of Women Voters, always making time for her life-long passion, reading. While her favorites were murder mysteries, she read a wide variety of books through her book club, and was not reticent about what she did and did not like. She also continued playing bridge, lots and lots of bridge.

Turner is survived by her daughters, Linda and her partner Larry Thomas and Laura and her husband Keith Baird. Equally important in her life was her longtime friend, caregiver, and confidante Marie Toombs, often referred to as ""the adopted daughter."" Turner also leaves behind thousands of students who will remember her for her knowledge, her guidance, and her many fine hats.

The family is grateful to Kind Companions for helping Turner stay at home as long as possible; and to the staff, past and present, of Willow Bend Assisted Living and Memory Care, who supported and cared for her in her last two and a half years.