Trudy Turney

LINNEUS, Trudy Turney, 70, died on October 22, 2023, at her home. She was born on April 8, 1953, in Houlton, the daughter of Ellsworth and Reta (Gavel) Malone.
Trudy enjoyed crafting and quilting and was always eager and happy to help others.
She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Osman, and their three daughters, Sra (Reggie) Stratton of Benedicta, and their children, Devin (Misty), and Jared (Makayla), Betina Ivey of Linneus and her children, Sam and Caleb, and Heather (Douglas) Hodgin of Fallon, NV., and their son Ossie, three great grandchildren, Liam Rhett and Royce Smith, three sisters Geraldine Tidd of Houlton, Jane Andrews of Houlton, Beverly Crocker of Winn, and brother Bruce (Norma) Malone of Haynesville, four sisters-in-law Joan Sullivan, Sandra Malone, Elaine Crandall, and Judith Turney, as well as several nieces, nephews, and cousins and her close friend Norma Goodale.
She was predeceased by her parents and two older brothers, Roger and Ellsworth Jr.
A graveside funeral service will be held on Friday Nov. 3, 2023, at the Haynesville Cemetery, at 1:00 PM with Ms. Joan Sullivan officiating. A celebration of life is planned following the service at The Haynesville Parsonage. To share condolences and memories online visit www.bowersfuneral.com
In the beginning, I was supposed to be writing mum's obituary. But how could a list of facts sum up the woman that she was? It's an impossibility. The math just doesn't exist. If we are more than the total sum of our parts then my mother was far more. I could say she was Reta Malone's youngest daughter and that is a volume in and of itself, but still not enough. So let me tell you about my mum. Our mum.
One of my sisters recently said our mother was the most accepting, loving, and non-judgmental person she had known next to Gram Reta. She was willing to help you no matter what. I learned a great many things from this amazing woman we were fortunate enough to call mom, Naun, friend, or sister. One: never chew on your cuticles and drive. Two: how to be strong and still, yield. Three: how to say "yup" at the exact right moment when watching TV.
God love her, her cheeseburgers were like hockey pucks, but her cinnamon rolls could have come from a bakery. When she had a heart full of laughter there was no one like her. And when she and Dad were in fine form you could laugh for days "Oh you think so Turney" she'd say.
And personally, my husband is still confused by what a "dooryard" actually is.
But on a more serious note, I've never known one woman who could be so many things for so many people. She was a mom to so many. A best friend. A wife. A confidant. A sister who loved to irritate her older sister, (I can relate.) You know who you are. She'd regale me with stories of your ridiculous shenanigans and late afternoon laundromat malarkey. But don't worry I won't tell as long as you admit I'm your favorite.
Sra. Oh, Sra. You are the best of us and I believe that is mum in you.
Norma Goodale, you were the sister God gave our mother through friendship and we love you.
Mum was a head rubber. A kind soul. A beautiful person in a world where they are a rare find. She made Christmas magic. No one else can make her stuffing. Ask Tina.
She loved us all unflinchingly and unfailingly. But she loved her boys the most, I believe. She was proud of every one of you, near or far, no matter what. Never doubt that. And as for her three little additions, I could feel the smile in her voice when she spoke of you.
Mum was taken for us all far too soon.
But I will always hear laughter and see her eyes light up.
She was a loving woman and good woman. She loved my dad. And he loved her. And my heart aches that he couldn't be here with us today. Let's not even get talking about their nocturnal snoring activities and thin walls.
She was always understanding. I mean, she had to be understanding when one of us ran around with material wrapped around her head, dressed in a sarong, doing a questionable variation of belly dance. Cough* Tina. Cough*
I remember the laughter.
I remember the tears.
And chocolate chip cookies.
And parents who would load several pairs of legs with several pairs of feet into the back of an old Chevy truck with a boat on a tow hitch and head for the lake, for long summer days.
When I was sick as a child, she never let me see how afraid she was, because I needed her strength. A strength I never truly understood you possessed until recently.
May angels lead you in, Mum. May God bless and keep you always. I know you found the narrow gate.
You will be forever remembered and forever missed.