Margaret Louise Turner
Margaret Louise Turner, 80, of Rossville, Georgia, passed away on Saturday, November 4, 2023.
Margaret was born in Eton, Georgia on July 24th, 1943 to the late James Lloyd McDearis and Mattie Lou Wilbanks McDearis. When she was quite young the family moved to Chattanooga. Margaret attended Ridgedale Elementary School, Eastside Junior High and Central High School.
She married the love of her life, Ronnie Turner, in 1961. One year later son Jeffery was born and then five years later daughter Lisa was born. Margaret and Ronnie were happily married for over 56 years. She was a devoted wife and loving mother. When grandson Wesley arrived on the scene, she served as his daycare keeping him during the day until he started school. She was proud to be involved in Wesley and Lindsey’s lives and was beyond the moon at the birth of her great-grandson Gabriel.
Margaret worked as a telephone operator at South Central Bell and then later as a substitute teacher before becoming a full-time homemaker. She enjoyed life immensely playing tennis, church softball and going camping. In more recent years she could be spotted enjoying another sport which consisted of racing down the aisles of the grocery store in a motorized cart while shopping for incidental food items and the often-necessary carton of Blue Bell homemade vanilla ice cream.
She loved celebrations and festivities, often dressing up for the occasion. She and Ronnie were often the winners at costume parties with extravagant costume themes which she dreamed up including one of Kermit and Miss Piggy. She dressed up as an elf at the 2020 family Christmas party and in 2021 she came as Cindy Lou Who from How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Earlier this year she got to celebrate her 80th birthday with a surprise birthday party. It was beach themed and included a flamingo decorated cake and of course ice cream.
She was a people person and was an active member of the East Lake Senior citizens for many years.
After her beloved Ronnie passed away, she anticipated regular outings with her dear friend Kay Campbell enjoying lunch and frequenting the thrift stores.
She was a member of Ridgedale Church of Christ for over 60 years. Of all the things which can be said about her, the most important is that she was a wonderful Christian wife and mother teaching the love of Christ to her children and grandson. She will be missed immensely but is in a much better place.
John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
She was preceded in death by her father James Lloyd, her mother Mattie Lou, her husband Ronnie, her sister Betty Rogers, her brother-in-law Clarence Rogers and her brother-in-law Johnny Turner.
She is survived by her son, Jeff Turner, her daughter, Lisa Leonard (Mike), her grandson, Wesley Birjkovff (Lindsey), her great-grandson, Gabriel Birjkovff, her brother, James McDearis (Virginia), brother-in-law, Tommy (Sherry) and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to Ridgedale Church of Christ.
The family would like to extend a special expression of gratitude to the office of Dr. Chirag Patel for the kindness and compassion shown over the last 13 years as well as a heartfelt thanks to Lifecare of East Ridge, American House Shallowford and Hospice of Chattanooga for all that they have done for the past two months.
The family will receive friends from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday at the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, 404 South Moore Road.
Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday at Lakewood Memory Gardens, South with Minister Paul Stidham and Minister Ken Willis officiating.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaEastChapel.com.