Willie Turner

BENTON, Mo. -- Willie Lee Turner, 87, of Benton died Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009, at the Miner Nursing Center in Miner, Mo.

She was born Dec. 10, 1921, in Mount Pleasant, Ark., to William Edward and Ida Dora Sipes Caraway. She and Tillman Luther Turner were married Nov. 22, 1941, in Yuma, Ariz. He preceded her in death June 29, 1993.

She was a member of Unity Baptist Church in Benton, where she taught Sunday school for 25 years. She is survived by a son, Gary Turner, of Benton; three daughters, Carolyn (William) Davis, Brenda (Lonnie) Ward, both of Sikeston, Mo., and Barbara (Robert) Criss of Benton; eight grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

She was also preceded in death by a grandson, four brothers and three sisters.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Benton, and from 9 a.m. until time of service Wednesday at Unity Baptist Church.

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church, with the Rev. Dennis Lowe officiating. Burial will be in Unity Baptist Cemetery.