Services for Julia Lavern Alexander Turner, 87, former longtime resident of Zaneis, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 20 at the Alexander Gray Funeral Home Chapel in Wilson with Reverend David Gardner officiating.

Interment will follow at Hewitt Cemetery. Those in attendance are respectfully asked to wear a mask. Services will be on Facebook Live.

Born May 17, 1993 at Pike, the daughter of Ben and Ruby McKee Alexander, she died Thursday, February 11, 2021 in Ardmore.

A resident of Love and Carter County all of her life, Lavern attended school at Pike and Burneyville and graduated from Courtney High School with the class of 1951. She played basketball and was basketball homecoming queen. After graduation, she worked at the Love County Courthouse. She later worked at the Marietta Pants Factory, IGA grocery in Healdton, and cooked at the Zaneis School Cafeteria, where she prepared weekly menus. Also, before retirement, Lavern worked as a caregiver. Even after retirement she volunteered at the Healdton Hospital. All the while she was a devoted homemaker.

She and Bill Jackson were married on November 30, 1951, and from that union were born three children: one son, Allen, and two daughters, Sheila and Pam. Later, Lavern and Chesley Turner were married February 14, 1986 in Zaneis. Lavern enjoyed spending time with her family, especially watching her grandchildren play sports and attending dance and piano recitals. Her hobbies included a love of dancing, fishing, caring for flowers and chickens, baking, visiting with friends and solving problems swinging on the back porch swing. Lavern was a member of the First Baptist Church of Wilson and also a proud elder of the Chickasaw Tribe.

Preceding her in death were her parents; two sisters, Sharron McGehee and Yvonne Alexander; brother, L.B. Alexander; and special friends, Clara Sparks and Betty Emberling.

Survivors include her daughters, Sheila Parker and husband Steve of Lone Grove and Pam Galles and husband Patrick of Ardmore; son, Allen Jackson and wife Debbie of Lone Grove; five grandchildren, Jason Jackson and wife Tracey of Frisco, Texas, Amber Wilson and husband Russell of Lone Grove, Kati Cain and husband Derek of Springer,  Megan Vitrano and husband Paul of Broken Arrow, and Kristen Smith and husband Blake of Ardmore; 10 great-grandchildren, Addison and Kylynn Jackson, Emma and Hunter Wilson, Kyler and Davis Cain, Sawyer and Baylor Vitrano, Savannah and Easton Smith; special cousin, Wayne Alexander; special sister-in-law, Katherine Morgan; special brother-in-law, Preston Lloyd McGehee; special niece, Lisa; special nephews, Preston Harold, Gregg, Rick, Mike Darren, and Ben; step-grandson, Brad Turner and wife Tiffany; and a host of other family and friends.

Serving as pallbearers will be Patrick Galles, Mike Morgan, Preston Lloyd McGehee, Gregg McGehee, Jason Jackson, and Steve Parker. Honorary bearers are Preston Harold McGehee, Wayne Alexander, Rick Morgan, Eileen Duvall, and grandchildren.

Visitation will be held Friday, February 19 from 6 until 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Special thanks to Elmbrook Nursing Home and Cross Timbers Hospice.

Online guest book: alexanderfuneralhome.org

This obituary included a photo of Mrs. Turner.