Saltillo - Betty Morgan Turner, 71, died Tuesday, June 30, 2009, at The North Mississippi Medical Center after a brief illness. She was born April 4, 1938, in the Fawn Grove Community to Grady C. and Geneva Lee Murphy Morgan. Raised in Mooreville, she was valedictorian of the 1956 graduating class of Mooreville High School. She then attended Itawamba Community College. She moved to Saltillo in 1965 where she resided since that time. She was the secretary for Saltillo School for 22 years, retiring in 2000. She was an avid flower and vegetable gardener and loved any kind of fishing. She also enjoyed working crossword puzzles and traveling. She adored her family and friends and was devoted to taking care of her grandchildren. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Saltillo.
Services will be 1 p.m. Friday at The Jefferson Street Chapel of W. E. Pegues with Dr. Rex Yancey officiating. Burial will be in Tupelo Memorial Park.
Survivors include three daughters, Pamela Turner Gentry of Saltillo, Penny Turner Sharp and husband, Dale, of Tupelo, and Leah Turner Barrett and husband, Joey, of Saltillo; one sister, Jo Ellen Irvin and husband, Bobby, of Dorsey; one brother, William Morgan of Atlanta, Ga.; eight grandchildren, Morgan Gentry, Claire Gentry, Calvin Lower, Lora Beth Barrett, Neal Barrett, David Sharp (Leigh), Stacy Sharp, Robin Nanney (Jay); two great-grandchildren, Ella Claire Sharp and Hunter Nanney; a very special friend, Therrel M.(Bozy)Porch of East Union; a host of nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews
She was preceded in death by one sister, Louise Carruth and husband, Richard (Dick) Carruth.
Pallbearers will be Tommy Carruth, Kris Irvin, David Sharp, Jimmy Gault, Evan Gault, and Johnny Green.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Mac Porch, Joe Porch, Maury Giachelli, Keegan Porch, Chase Porch, and Dan Porch.
Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Building Fund of St. Thomas Catholic Church of Saltillo, in care of St. James Catholic Church, 812 Lakeshire, Tupelo MS 38801; or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 1 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.