Karlene Kay (Davidson) Turner
Karlene Kay (Davidson) Turner
Karlene Kay (Davidson) Turner was born to Carleton and Jean Davidson on March 7, 1943, in Red Oak, Iowa. She passed away on October 22, 2024, at the Israel Family Hospice House in Ames, Iowa at the age of 81.
Her early years were spent in the Wales-Lincoln area of Montgomery County, graduating from Wales-Lincoln High School with the class of 1960. She then attended and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1965, majoring in Elementary Education.
While home on a weekend from UNI, Karlene met the love of her life. Gary Turner, who was on leave from the US Army, also happened to be home for the weekend in Red Oak, Iowa. A year later, on June 20, 1965, Karlene and Gary Turner were united in marriage at Oaks Community Church in Montgomery County. They made their first home in Essex, Iowa. Karlene was employed by the Red Oak School District for two years, teaching second grade, then taught fifth grade in Farragut, Iowa for one year before resigning to start a family. Steven Douglas was welcomed into the family in 1968 followed by Nancy Anne in 1971.
Karlene and Gary started a furniture, carpet, drapery and gift business in Essex in 1974. The business grew over the years, eventually expanding into a new building. Karlene was a gifted salesperson; much of their success over the years was due to her ability to meet and connect with customers. In 1994, after twenty years in business, they sold the family business and retired full time to Sun Valley Lake in Ringgold County, Iowa. They were snowbirds splitting their time between their lake home and a residence in Arizona.
Karlene radiated her positive attitude and her smile to all that she met. She made friends wherever she was, and kept those friends close for the rest of her life. She possessed a creative spirit and used her natural artistic ability to create beautiful, one-of-a-kind greeting cards. She was a person of strong faith, and it was her mission to minister to anyone in need through her handmade creations. One or more cards, with handwritten words of encouragement and usually a Bible verse, were mailed out almost every day.
Karlene was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Mark. She is survived by her husband Gary; son Steve (Min-Shu) of Kent, Washington; daughter Nancy (Dan) Tannehill of Johnston, Iowa; grandson Ryan Turner of Seattle, Washington; granddaughter Sarah Turner of Brisbane, Australia; brothers Don (Dorinda) Davidson of Chesterfield, Virginia; Dennis (Laura) Davidson of Bend, Oregon; uncle Ken Ackerman of Manhattan Beach, California; many cousins, nieces, and nephews, and her many life-long friends.
Visitation will be held at Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr, Iowa on Wednesday, October 30 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, October 31 at the Ellston United Methodist Church. Burial will be at 2:00 p.m. Thursday in the Stringtown Cemetery, north of Lenox, Iowa. Memorials are established to St Jude’s Children’s Hospital and Crossroads Hope Academy, Davidson Campus, Punta Gorda, Florida. Memories may be shared at www.armstrongfh.com.
