Judy Turner, age 76, of Grinnell, died on Wednesday, March 25, 2015, at her home.
A celebration of life gathering will be held from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 29, 2015, at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell.
Memorial contributions may be designated in her name to the First Baptist Church in Grinnell or to Grinnell Regional Hospice, mailed in care in care the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112.
Judith Evelyn Rutherford was born the daughter of Ralph William Rutherford and Isabel Parker (Bowman) Rutherford on Friday, October 7, 1938, in Grinnell, Iowa. She was raised on the family farm near Grinnell and was first educated at Malcom Country School Number 3 in rural Poweshiek County. She graduated from Grinnell High School, class of 1956.
She was united in marriage to Hillard Turner, Jr. on September 9, 1955, at the First Baptist Church in Grinnell. The couple was blessed with four children, Diana, Joni, Laura and Greg. They raised their family in Grinnell and later moved to the family farm southeast of Grinnell, where she enjoyed nature, raising horses, tending to her garden and landscaping. Judy worked at DeKalb Pfizer Genetics, now Monsanto, for over 27 years until her retirement in 2002.
Judy was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church in Grinnell. She held a strong love for her family, was very devoted to her church and faith in Jesus Christ, and held a special love for her cats. Her family described her as artistic, creative, straight-forward, prompt and always busy with an activity. She enjoyed square and round dancing, sewing, making jewelry and miniatures, and taking family trips, especially to Apple River in Wisconsin.
Judy is survived by her husband of 59 years, Hillard Turner, Jr. of Grinnell; 2 daughters, Diane (Gary) Forristall of Macedonia, IA and Laura (Steve) Poole of Grinnell; son, Greg (Lynn) Turner of Greenwood, FL; grandchildren, Hillary (Forristall) Hughes of Cedar Rapids, IA, Kevin Forristall of Macedonia, IA, Audrey (Lymer) Johnson of Kansas City, MO, Aaron Lymer of Steamboat Springs, CO, Jolene Harris, Katie Harris and Colton Harris, all of Denver, CO, Shyann Turner and Dalton Turner, both of Greenwood, FL, step-grandchildren Dylon Mitchell of Grinnell, Sierra Mitchell of Greenwood, FL; 6 great grandchildren; and her brother, Bob Rutherford of Grinnell.
She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Joni Harris on February 26, 2013; sister, Carolyn Stuart; and son-in-law, Tim Harris on December 8, 2013.
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