Obituary of Alice E. Turley

"Alice Elizabeth (Haywood) Turley, of Boston Road, died peacefully at the age of 99 on April 26th at Wing Memorial Hospital. This Fourth of July would have been her 100th birthday; Alice’s family will continue to view this day as a time to celebrate her life. Born and raised in West Lafayette, Indiana, she was the only daughter of the late Thomas and Bertha Haywood. Alice earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University, where she was also a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority. She and her late husband E. Lee Turley relocated from the Midwest to Ware, Massachusetts in 1946 and ultimately settled in Palmer in 1951. A devoted and long time member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Ware, Alice was a lector and sang in the choir until the age of 92. Along with her church responsibilities, she was an active member of a variety of organizations throughout the years, ranging from the Ware Social Science Club and Palmer Women’s Club to Tuesday Club and Entre Nous Bridge Club. Holding a deep appreciation for the natural world, Alice was an avid gardener who was known to plant hundreds of annuals every spring; she tended to her flowers up through her 98th year. Above all, Alice cherished her family. Whether near or far, she held her kin close to her heart. The meaningful traditions she passed on will endure and her loving legacy will live within the extended family always. In addition to her husband of 48 years and to her parents, Alice was predeceased by her daughter Judy, her son Robert and his wife Janet. She will be deeply missed by her surviving children, Thomas and his wife Mary of Jamestown, RI, Patrick and his wife Annabelle of Palmer, Jane Reynard and her husband John of Worcester, and Marcia Degnan and her husband Donald of Palmer. She also leaves behind eleven beloved grandchildren: Lucinda Cutrer, Mark Turley, Karen Carney, Keith Turley, Douglas Turley, Beth Ellis, Todd Morey, Alice Morey, Scott Degnan, Eric Degnan, and Wendy Sandoval, along with nineteen great-grandchildren. Calling hours will be held on Sunday, May 1st between 4:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. at Beers & Story Palmer Funeral Home. Her funeral will follow on Monday, May 2nd at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church on Park & Pleasant Streets, Ware. Donations may be made in Alice’s memory to Trinity Episcopal Church, Park & Pleasant Streets, Ware, 01082 or to Wing Memorial Hospital, Wright Street, Palmer, 01069. "