Mary Turner

Memorial service for Mary Ruth Reaves Turner, 85, of Ruidoso will be Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 11:00 AM in the First Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Turner passed away Friday, Sept. 19, at Mescalero. She was born July 25, 1923 at Blue Mountain, Mississippi to Docia and Oscar Reaves who precede her in death. Mary graduated from Blue Mountain High School, she earned a B.S. degree from Delta State College at Cleveland, Mississippi and a Master of Science from Mississippi State University at Starksville, Mississippi. She taught at Sunflower Junior College at Moorehead, Mississippi where she met Bill who was a student after World War II. They later married in Tupelo, Mississippi on August 15, 1948. They relocated to Horn Lake, Mississippi teaching, they came to Hagerman, New Mexico in 1955 to continue their teaching career. She also taught in Animas and Des Moines, New Mexico, she considered the many students as her children. Mary retired in 1983 and her and Bill moved to Jemez Springs, New Mexico where they built a home with their hands with their hands while Bill was superintendent of the Jemez School District. They lived there until 1995 when they moved to Ruidoso. They were active in the Community Presbyterian Church in Jemez Springs then became active in the life of the First Presbyterian Church in Ruidoso until their health slowed their involvement. She is survived by her husband of 60 years, William T. Bill Turner; a brother, Allen Reaves and his wife Patsy of El Paso and Ruidoso; several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Harold Reaves, Ralph Reaves and Oscar Berry Reaves.

Service