Erlene Turner

Lynne Turner 1931 ~ 2009 Erlene Lynne Slater Turner, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, returned to her Heavenly Father on December 10, 2009. She was born July 11, 1931 in Salt Lake City, Utah, a daughter of William Earl Slater and Emma Maudella Merritt Slater. The family moved to California, living in Lawndale and North Hollywood, where Lynne graduated from high school. Her father had a gold mine near Yerington, Nevada. Here she met and married Paul Fred Turner (deceased) on September 19, 1957. She was sealed to him in the Jordan River Temple on July 28, 2001. They lived in Nevada and California, returning to Salt Lake City, Utah in 1970, where she has lived the past 39 years. Her husband, Paul, was a long haul truck driver, so she had a lot of time to devote to the various organizations that she belonged to. During the summer months, she and her husband built a two story log cabin on Cedar Mountain, near Duchesne, Utah. The whole family enjoyed working on it and seeing it grow over 10 years, before Paul died in 1990. Lynne was an employee of the Utah State Legislature, and held several positions over the 26 years she worked there, including House Rules Committee Secretary, Senate Minority Secretary for Senator Beck, Senator Black, Senator Waddingham, and Senator Fordham. For 4 years, she was employed as a Tour Guide for the House of Representatives, and gave tours to school children and people visiting the capitol. When Lynne returned to Utah, after living in California and Nevada, she was a Mary Kay Beauty Consultant, joining the company when it was first founded, and working for 15 years. Lynne was very active in the community and in many heritage societies. She was the State Secretary for the Utah Society of Mayflower Descendants for several years, then she became the State Historian for 10 years, helping over 250 applicants to become members. For over 26 years she was on the Board of Directors for the Days of 47, Inc., as Chairman of the Territorial Ball, Street Shows, Wheeler Farm, and the Essay Contest. She was a member of Utah Choral Arts Society of Utah, singing in many concerts. She was also Chapter Regent for the Uintah Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, going on to hold the State DAR positions of State Historian, State Secretary and State 1st Vice Regent. Lynne organized the Taylorsville Daughters of Utah Pioneers, and served several times as Camp Captain. She was the County President for the West Salt Lake County DUP. Lynne was a member of the Daughters of the American Colonists, where she held many State officer positions, including the State Regent of that society. She was also a member of the Order of the Crown of Charlemagne. Lynne was the founder and first Chairman of the Taylorsville-Bennion Community Council. She was a member of the Salt Lake County Planning and Zoning Commission. She was the first PTA President of Eisenhower Jr. High School. She was also the President of the Granite Secondary PTA Council. For over 48 years she was with the Utah Girl Scout Council, as leader, trainer, Camp Director, Public Relations, and Silver Trefoil. She was a member of the Oregon-California Trails Association, Old Spanish Trails Association, and the Jedediah Strong Smith Society. Lynne was also a cousin, several times removed , of Jedediah Smith. With the Daughters of the American Colonists, she was Marker Chairman, and placed two markers, one in Grantsville, Cherokee Trail and the other, Jedediah Strong Smith at the Rest Area west of Black Rock Beach, on the Great Salt Lake. Lynne was an avid genealogist and historian and loved going to the Family History Library, to do research. She wrote several books on The Merritt Families of North Carolina; The Merritt Families of Virginia; and 3 volumes of The Descendants of Edward Merritt. In July of 1996, she had a spiritual experience near Devils Gate, in Wyoming. She subsequently wrote The Emigrating Journals of the Willie and Martin Handcart Companies and the Hunt and Hodgett Wagon Trains. For many years, she was active in politics and was an employee at the State Legislature for over 24 years. She ran for the State Legislature 2 times. She is survived by her children; Linda Ann Turner of West Valley City, Ut; with sons Rusty and David; Cynthia Diane Peterson (Brad), West Jordan, Ut; with daughters, McCall, Melissa, Paige and Jaycee; Tamara Sue Slock (Fred), with son Tory Skylar Hardy. Lynne has one great-grandson, Tyrrell Mark Matos Hardy. She has 4 sisters, Shirley Huesgen, Nola (Albert) Ostraff, Cleo (Dohn) Bronson, and Debra (Scott) Alvey, along with many nieces and nephews. Also special daughters Debi, Emily Kellett, Mindy Hardy, Patricia Richins, Pam Kline and Karen Merritt. She also has several special sons. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 11:00 a.m. at McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 South Redwood Road. Viewing will be held Monday 5-8 p.m. and Tuesday 9:30-10:30 a.m. Interment, Leavitts Aultorest Cemetery in Ogden, Utah.