Pansy Turner (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Pansy May Turner, daughter of Herschel Stuart and Julia Evelyn Cansler Massie, was born September 23, 1916, at Spring Hollow, near Long Lane, Missouri. She departed this life Thursday, December 17, 2015, in her home, in Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of ninety-nine years, two months, and twenty-three days.
On August 17, 1939, at Forsyth, Missouri, she was united in marriage to Worley Lansford Turner, and to this union two daughters and one son were born.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of sixty-two years, Worley, on November 9, 2001; and three sisters, Marie Carr Smith, Maxine Meents, and Leoral Faye Akey.
Pansy is survived by a son, Larry Turner, and his wife, Sharon, of Lebanon, Missouri; two daughters, Judy Blakeley, and her husband, Tom, and Rita Layman, and her husband, David, all of Lebanon, Missouri; ten grandchildren, Tricia Basler, and her husband, Todd, Tyler Blakeley, and his wife, Tara, Tiffany Shtogrin, and her husband, Kevin, LaShelle Newman, and her husband, J.R., Lance Turner, and his wife, Ashley, Alesha Smith, and her husband, Robert, Jeremy Rader, and Becky Keen, Shane Rader, and his wife, Sarah, Joshua Layman, and his wife, Krista, and Ashley Letterman, and her husband, Robbie; two step-grandchildren, Robert Ray, and his wife, Crystal, and Terry Givler, and her husband, Troy; twenty-one great-grandchildren, Alexis, Madison, Blake, Tori, Cason, Halle, Elle, Braxton, Zane, Sadie, Lainey, Jackson, Saige, Sylvie, Simon, Ava, Adele, and Brinlee; twelve step-great-grandchildren; a sister, Sonya Adkins, of Lebanon, Missouri; a brother-in-law, Dooley Palmer, of Lebanon, Missouri; a number of nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives, many friends, former students, her church family, and her caregivers, Monica Smith, and Patricia Johnson.
She was raised in the Long Lane and Phillipsburg areas, and graduated from Phillipsburg High School in the Class of 1934. After she and Worley were married, they made their home in Lebanon and lovingly raised their children. Pansy began a career in education in 1936 starting at Mt. Zion School, where she taught at two different times. She also taught in several other rural schools including, Gannon, Kapp, Ivey, High Prairie (now Joel E. Barber) and Candock Schools. In 1960, she started teaching in the Waynesville schools and then moved to the Maplecrest Elementary School in Lebanon in 1966. She continued to teach first grade at Maplecrest until retiring in 1977. Throughout the years, Pansy earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Southwest Missouri State Teacher’s College and later her Master’s Degree from the University of Missouri.
Pansy was baptized into the Church of Christ in 1931, at the age of fifteen. She attended the Lee Summit Church of Christ as a young girl and was a faithful member of the Hayes Street Church of Christ in Lebanon, for as long as her health allowed.
She was an active member of the Retired School Personnel Association where she had served as courtesy chairperson. She was very artistic, enjoyed painting, and was a Past President of Lebanon Art Association. Her family was very dear to her and she especially enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They all loved her homemade bread, cinnamon rolls, and her special shortcake.
Pansy was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate her life and know that she will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by all of her family, her former students, her fellow teachers, church family, and many friends.
Memorial contributions may be made to Maplecrest School, and left at the funeral home.
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