Mary “Maxine” (Morrison) Turley of Milton, West Virginia, born to Luther Franklin Morrison and Mary Minerva (Rimmer) Morrison of Ona WV on September 11th, 1929, flew away into the arms of her Savior on Friday, February 2nd, 2024, at Hospice House in Huntington, WV. She was preceded in death by her husband, Azel Glenn Turley; son Mark Alan Turley (Carol), granddaughter Lara Danielle (Turley) Carder, brother James Morrison (Patty) and sister Mildred (Morrison) Caldwell (Gene). Surviving members of her family are sons Dana Turley (Brenda), David Turley (Leslie) and daughter Martha Turley along with grandchildren Daryl (Tricia) Turley, Joel (Tamara) Turley, Carissa Turley (Andy Phillips), Sam Turley, Holly (Alex) Phillips, Jacqueline (Colby) Callihan, Shinya (Miranda) Turley, TK (Rachel) Turley, Joanna (Dylan) Patton, Audra Stamp, a special friend Naoko Wada and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
Maxine, (Polly, Mom, Granny, “Little Chick”) was loved by all who knew her. Family would often meet at “Granny’s house” to get our dose of that love and sense of the importance of family. Her devotion to service for Jesus and to her beloved family were a beacon of light to many around the world. She showed amazing love and thoughtfulness to all her family members and dear friends. Granny loved her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews with all her heart, soul and mind and she was deeply loved in return. Hugs and words of, “I love you” were a must with each greeting and parting. She was an amazing cook and family remember her special meals for each birthday or special celebration. She never forgot a birthday, anniversary, or any important event in our lives.
In her early days, Granny was a bright student in school and was proud to have been double promoted a grade. She met her future husband Azel right after high school and they were blessed with their four children raised on Fudges Creek Road in Ona where Azel was a State Farm Agent. Granny was deeply involved in the lives of her children. She was a den mother for her sons in the cub scouts and served as an Ona Elementary PTA mom and president. She eventually as she became the Cabell County PTA President. She was also on a committee that visited all the schools in the county to evaluate and determine their needs. These positions she held with pride.
Granny loved Jesus. A member of Milton Baptist Church and a Sunday school teacher there, she rarely missed an opportunity to attend a church service, Sunday school, a bible study or church gathering. She was especially proud to have four pastors in her family and to know that family members were serving God. Music was a part of her life as she sang in a quartet at Beulah Ann Baptist Church called, “The Nightingales” and as she enjoyed singing in the choir at Milton Baptist Church for many years. She loved “Fifth-Sunday” sings” and listening to all kinds of gospel music.
She took part in many activities in Milton as she participated in the city council and as she loved giving out candy to the many children who came “trick or treating” at her house in Milton. When she moved to Milton after Azel’s passing, she took on the role as “general contractor” to rebuild the “Milton (Turley) House” as a place for gathering together family and friends. It has remained that place of gathering for all of us for over 20 years. Often found sitting on the front porch of the house, she helped to create a warm community as she would greet and share a kind word with all who would pass by. Beauty was a part of her nature and her natural gifts for art, sewing, decoration and crafts meant that the house and her church and were always decorated. Many were blessed by the way she lovingly did cake and wedding decorating.
When Maxine graduated from high school, a friend wrote a prophecy that she would be a missionary to Japan…and although Maxine didn’t fulfill this personally, her son David did and from this service came ministry opportunities to open her home in Milton and Ona and serve many international students who needed a friendly and loving place to call their, “home away from home”.
A natural teacher and encourager, she knew how to interest children in crafts and making things by hand. It was a special joy for her to give permanents to the many women in the extended family. Along with her sister Mildred, she put together a book of family history and one of recipes. She was an avid historian and loved being able to trace the family trees of the Rimmer and the Morrison families. Her love for her father and his service in World War I led her to prepare monthly meals for Veterans of Foreign Wars.
We will miss her greatly, but we will continue to hold dear the things she taught us: to love Jesus, to love our neighbor and to love each other. Thank you, Granny for a life well-lived and well-loved.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 10, 2024 at the Wallace Funeral Home, Milton, by Rev. Brent Beckett. Burial will be in Forest Memorial Park, Milton. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting a donation to either the ALS Association at https://www.als.org or to Milton Baptist Church Misssions. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.timeformemory.com/wallace.
