Former Acton Resident, Nurse & Volunteer Extraodinaire Dies After Short Fight with Cancer

Willie (Charlene) Turner passed away on May 24, 2012, at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine. She was born at home on May 7, 1934, in Imboden, Arkansas.

She is survived by her husband, Leon, and her four children, Terry, Tracy, Todd and Tammy. She was blessed with three grandchildren, Jesse, Alisa and Timmy. She was also blessed with the wives and partners of her children, Nami Turner, Beth Johnson, Carol Haddad and Jon Garber. She is also survived by her sister, Charlotte Williams of Pocahontas, Ark., and is predeceased by her brother Jack, sister Coralee and her parents.

She was an amazingly wonderful wife, mother and grandmother, friend and advocate. She was dearly loved and will be missed beyond words.

Willie worked as a nurse for 40 years in Missouri, Kansas, Florida and Massachusetts. She and Leon lived in Acton MA for 28 years and retired to Cape Neddick, Maine, in 1993 and have enjoyed their retirement by keeping busy in the community. They are members of the United Methodist Church York-Ogunquit and she was an active member in the United Methodist Women's Group. She volunteered over the years at the Portsmouth Hospital as well.

A memorial service will be held on June 9th at the United Methodist Church York-Ogunquit on U.S. Route 1 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift in memoriam to the church — UMC York-Ogunquit. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.jspelkeyfuneralhome.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to the JS Pelkey Funeral Home.