JoAnn Turner

(From Clark Funeral Home)

JoAnn Turner, 89, died Friday, May 10, 2024, at Solace House of the Ozarks, Joplin.

JoAnn Clark was born December 24, 1934, in Granby, the fourth of seven children of Harry Clark and Ethelyn (Russell) Clark She grew up in Aroma and attended school in Granby, living for a short time in California.

She married William Maynard “Bill” Turner August 8, 1951, in Bentonville, Arkansas. They were married 70 years before his death January 15, 2022. The couple settled in Newtonia, where JoAnn stayed until six days before her death. She and Bill even remained in their house while half of it was being rebuilt following the May 10, 2008 tornado.

JoAnn worked at Big Smith and the Granby Factory, was a cook at the Water and Wastewater Technical School at Crowder and worked at Gum Mercantile and the Newtonia Post Office.

JoAnn was a leader in the Newtonia community. She was one of the founders of the Newtonia Battlefield Protection Association and served on its original board as it fought to preserve the site of two Civil War battles and the Ritchey Mansion, which served as a hospital during the war. The work she and the organization did paid off in 2023 when the site was put under the supervision of Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield.

JoAnn also played a key role in raising money to build the Newtonia Community Building, which has served as a place to hold community events and city government meetings since the mid-1970s. For many years, she helped organize the annual Newtonia Fall Festival and took care of the community building. She was a member of the Newtonia Betterment Association and Daughters of the American Revolution.

In 2007, JoAnn was named Newtonia’s Citizen of the Year.

JoAnn and Bill served on the Newtonia IOOF Cemetery Board. They marked graves and JoAnn kept a record of obituaries for Newtonia residents who died, as well as for others who were buried in the cemetery.

For many years, JoAnn made dolls and sold them at craft fairs and on consignment. She was passionate about genealogy, never missed a St. Louis Cardinals game and loved cats and dogs. She enjoyed gardening, canning and taught her kids how to play baseball.

She loved to work in her yard, take care of her flowers and for years walked six miles a day.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and by her siblings Irene Cabanyog, Kenneth Clark, Bob Clark, Gene Clark, Donna Linton and Carolyn Strait.

She is survived by her children, Vicki (Chuck) Dolezilek, Aurora, Colorado; Randy Turner, Joplin; and Kelly Turner, Springfield, three grandchildren Cristal (Kevin) Mouser, Stella; Kiley (Logan) Alumbaugh, Mount Vernon; and Kara (Austin) Fodge, Fayetteville, North Carolina, and three great-grandchildren Hattie Alumbaugh, Havana Alumbaugh and Weston Fodge.

Visitation will be held 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday, May 17 at Clark Funeral Home, Granby, with Doug Gripka officiating, followed by graveside services at Newtonia IOOF Cemetery at 11:30 a.m.

Contributions may be made to Solace House of the Ozarks or to any organization benefiting animals.