Obituary of Maria E. Turner

Turner, Maria E. Age 96 and longtime resident of Ridge Road in Horseheads passed away Monday September 19, 2016. Maria was born February 17, 1920 to Milton and Anne (Voight) Roy. She was predeceased by her husband of 40 years, George A. Turner Jr. in 1988. Maria Turner was an extraordinary woman, always possessing an unbound energy and enthusiasm for life. She had a passion for teaching. She touched and changed hundreds of lives throughout her career. Maria was a reading teacher in the Horseheads School District. During her long career of 42 years of teaching she taught in Connecticut and locally at Odessa, Breesport, Ridge Road, and finally Gardener Road School. She so loved teaching that she went on to substitute for 13 more years. She found great love and peace living on her family’s sixth-generation run dairy farm and truly believed in the importance of the small family farm. Maria is survived by her son and daughter, Georgann (David) Oman, David (Pam) Turner, her most dear and Best Friend Dr. James Powell . Jim and Maria shared the love of travel and spent three decades enjoying life together. And her loving sister (with whom she spoke on the phone with every week of her life) Anne Woodside of Weston, MA. She found such joy and pride in her Grandchildren and great grandchildren, They were the sparkle in her eyes in her later years. Caroline (Jack) Watach, Marshall Turner, Heather (Jerry) Hufford, Melanie (Jon) Shaban, and her great-grandchildren, Morgan and Blake Watach, Payton Turner, Shane and Madison Shaban, and Jacob Hufford. Maria was incredibly active and involved in her community and school system throughout her lifetime. She served on many boards, and was a member of numerous clubs and remained active in Retired Teachers, and Horseheads Woman’s Club until her passing. Family and friends are invited to call at the Barber Funeral Home 413 S. Main St. Horseheads on Saturday Sept. 24, 2016 from 12:00 noon -3:00pm. Her service will take place at 3:00pm. A further celebration and gathering for family and friends will follow the service at Maria’s home in Horseheads on Saturday at the conclusion of her service between 4:30 -6:30pm. Those wishing to honor her memory may make a donation to Reading Is Fundamental in Maria’s name. Condolences and remembrances at www.barberfuneralhome.com