Mary Kathryn Turner

Mary Kathryn Turner, 68, passed away in the comfort of her home in Bozeman, Montana on February 25, 2015. She was born on November 17, 1946 in Los Angeles, CA at the Queen of Angels Hospital to father Earl William Johnson and mother Marjorie Aladeen Johnson following the birth of her sister, Connie Marie. Mary graduated from Westchester High School in Los Angeles, CA in 1964. Following graduation, she married her first sweetheart, William 'Russell' Peterson, and they began to start a family. Mary gave birth to a son, Michael Steven, in March of 1966, at the young age of twenty. Three years later, in May of 1969, her daughter Suzanne Lynette was born. The family settled in Los Angeles for eleven years, until Mary and Russell divorced and went their separate ways. It proved to be fate's wish, as she met her one true sweetheart four years later, and she fell in love once again- but this time it was going to last. Mary Kathryn Johnson married Barry Raymond Turner on March 14, 1987 on a cloudy Saturday afternoon at Polliwog Park in Redondo Beach, CA. A few years later they relocated to Lake Havasu City, AZ in order to stay closer to their growing family- her daughter, Suzanne, had given birth to two children, Cody William and Katelynn Marie. From then on, she knew that she and Barry needed to keep them as close to their heart- and home- as possible. Mary and Barry relocated once again with their family, but this time to Billings, Montana. After a few years, they found permanent jobs and plenty of opportunities not too far away in the city of Bozeman, Montana. The two-hour drive from Billings proved to be a perfect and most favored getaway for her grandchildren. Mary worked as a medical biller/coder for both the Billings and Bozeman Deaconess hospitals, until she retired in 2010 to pursue her true calling of being a supportive mother and caring grandmother. She enjoys camping, floating along the Madison River, taking her dog Max out for a walk, and enjoying everything and anything that the beautiful Montana wilderness has to offer. Surviving, in addition to her loving husband, Barry Raymond Turner, are her sister, Connie Marie Presson; son, Michael Steven Peterson; daughter, Suzanne Lynette Peterson; three grandchildren, Cody William Collins, Katelynn Marie Collins and Shelby Miranda Peterson-Wolf; an adopted son, Cody Shawn Childress; and many nieces and nephews. A private service of remembrance will be held in her home following her passing and cremation. She wishes for her remains to be spread peacefully, respectfully and privately by her family members so her spirit will live forever in the breathtaking beauty of the Montana landscape. Her warm and gentle embrace, overwhelming care and compassion, maternal comfort, witty sense of humor and a distinguishably adorable chuckle are just a few of the things that will be missed- but more importantly, the things that we will someday soon learn to cherish and celebrate. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.dahlcares.com