Kathryn Burris Turner's Obituary
Kathryn Burris Turner died on September 28, 2023, after a long illness. She was born and grew up in Naperville, Illinois, later graduating from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. After serving for two years in the Peace Corps in Congo (then called Zaire), she received a Masters in Library Science degree from Simmons College in Boston and spent her career working in a variety of libraries, including public, school, and corporate. She spent much of her working life as a school librarian in international schools in Pakistan, Cote d’Ivoire, Venezuela, China, and the Dominican Republic. After retiring to Florida, she moved to Lakeland, where she lived for the past seven years. No matter where she was, she worked to make the world a more beautiful place, like the time she organized a beach clean-up while on vacation in Malaysia. A voracious and devoted reader, an adventurous traveler, and a talented painter and quilter, Kath was committed to social justice and active in volunteer work. Warm, thoughtful, and good-humored, she lived a life open to new people, ideas, and experiences. Her wide, radiant smile could be seen from across a room, and people of all ages were drawn to her spontaneously silly sense of humor. She is survived by her husband Ken, her daughters Chloe and Hope, her brother Jim and sister Sue, and her grandchildren Luca and Naomi.
In a characteristically generous gesture, Kathy wished her body to be donated for medical research. Her family feels tremendous gratitude and respect for the kind, loving staffs of Good Shepherd Hospice and The Manor at Carpenters. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Kathy’s name to Good Shepherd Hospice (https://www.chaptershealth.org/foundation/good-shepherd-hospice-donation/) or your local non-profit hospice.
What’s your fondest memory of Kathryn?
What’s a lesson you learned from Kathryn?
Share a story where Kathryn's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Kathryn you’ll never forget.
How did Kathryn make you smile?