Susan Kay Turner

Susan Kay Rice Turner was delivered into the hands of the Lord on June 10, 2023 at 6:45am CST after suffering from a hemorrhagic stroke earlier in the week. Susan was born November 11, 1941 to Thomas D. Rice and Charlotte Baker Rice in the tiny oil town of Golden Meadow, Louisiana. Tom had moved the family to one of the southern-most areas of the state in search of fortune and opportunity in the oil fields with a pregnant Charlotte in tow. It didn’t take long for the heat and the insects (not to mention the accent) to convince the Rices to return to their hometown of Tigrett, Tennessee in Dyer County. Susan grew up a self-proclaimed tomboy who loved to play softball, dance, listen to music, and get into all sorts of mischief with her best friend Mary Adorne “Pill” Clark Reasons. After spending some time in Jackson, Tennessee attending Lambuth College, Susan moved to Memphis. It was there that she met the love of her life, a 6’4, cotton-topped beanpole named Donald Wynn Turner hailing from Friendship, Tennessee. As the story goes, they were set-up on a blind date, although they would say they both knew each other before the date. Don and Susan were married in the Fall of 1962. They were living in Memphis, Tennessee when they welcomed their first child, a daughter named Allison Elaine, born in 1963. Allison was followed by a son named Donald Thomas, born in 1970 and another son named Terry Wynn in 1972. Susan worked numerous jobs throughout her life but her greatest joy was that of a devoted mother and wife. She was an excellent cook who loved to care for her family, but hated to iron and sew. Susan loved all animals and birds, but had a special place in her heart for dogs. She loved to share treats with her dogs and grand dogs, and would save the unbroken chips in the chip bag especially for them. Do not dare eat the whole chips! Susan loved to listen to music and her favorite artists included Don Williams, Kenny Rodgers, The Hollies, Roy Orbison, The Ink Spots, Chuck Berry…heck she even listened to R.E.M.! Susan loved the Lord and lived her life in a way that honored Him. She was a devoted friend and confidante and was always the one to call just to see how you were doing or to hear your voice. Susan was known as “Mimi” to her grandchildren and she prayed daily for their safety and success. Susan was truly timeless with beautiful blue eyes, dark black hair (that she couldn’t do anything with because it was straight as a stick), and a show stopping smile that made her eyes twinkle. Susan was short in stature but large in spirit, and would always greet those she loved with “hey sweet!” and wave goodbye saying “love you much.” Susan lived fully in her 81 years and was a thoughtful and compassionate wife, mother, sister, Mimi and friend who will be greatly missed. Her light has been extinguished but continues to live on in the hearts and minds of her family and friends. We are truly lucky to have experienced her in our lives. Susan is preceded in death by her parents, Thomas D. Rice and Charlotte Baker Rice. She leaves behind her husband of 61 years, Donald Wynn Turner, and her children and their spouses Allison Turner Ezell (Scott Ezell), Donald Thomas Turner (Cassie Turner) and Terry Wynn Turner (Rachel Hoffman), four grandchildren, Victoria Estelle Turner, Henry Turner, Neyland Ezell and Turner Ezell, a loving sister Melinda Evans (Charlie Evans) and a nieces, Ashley Abbott, Cortnee Wilkes, and Calyn McMinn.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to either of the following:

Bolton Church

7237 Brunswick Road

Arlington,TN 38002

New Beginnings Animal Rescue

P.O. Box 1963

Olive Branch, MS 38654

https://newbeginningsanimalrescue.net/

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemphisFuneralGermantownParkway.com for the Turner family.