Mary Ellen Turner

Mary Ellen Turner, 92, was born in Abilene, TX and passed peacefully at her home in Tulsa, OK on July 3rd. She is survived by her children Joe Turner, Ann Horton, and Sue (Chris) Jones; grandchildren Frank (Jazmine) Green, Mashala (Daniel) Temas, and Rayshel Horton; great grandchildren Trenton Green, Abigail Temas, Matthew Temas and expecting Victor Green in September. Preceded in death by her parents Ray P. and Oma Porter, former spouse JD Turner, former spouse Darrell Morris, son Don Turner (6), son-in-law JR Horton and daughter-in-law Joy Turner.

Mary Ellen spent most of her childhood in El Reno, OK. Spending summers on the farms in Memphis, MO. She graduated from El Reno High School and was a member of the Bonita Marcia Catta literary society, National Art Society, Pepettes, and FHA. She attended the college her father founded and was Dean, El Reno Junior College, where she was a College Officer serving as Secretary. She became a dietitian getting her BS from Oklahoma A&M. While there she was in the Delta Zeta sorority. This is where she met her husband of almost 25 years, JD Turner. They moved to Tulsa in 1970. 

She spent her career as an independent dietitian in several nursing homes. She even spent time as the Treasurer of the Oklahoma Dietetic Association. Mary Ellen was an excellent seamstress making clothes for her family. She was also an amazing artist, painting numerous paintings some as long as a couch and attended numerous art classes. She continued to go to harvest every year in Memphis, MO until she could no longer walk the fields. She was a proud member of Boston Avenue United Methodist Church. She will be buried next to her parents in Memphis, MO.