Karen Turner

Karen B. Turner, 63, of Columbus, Indiana, passed from this life at 4:20 a.m. Friday, Nov. 28, 2014, at I.U. Health Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis.

Born in Sikeston, Missouri on Dec. 1, 1950, Mrs. Turner was the daughter of C.A. and Rose Marie Schaefer Baugus. She married Arthur H. Turner on Jan. 15, 1995.

She was a 1968 graduate of Sikeston High School, received her bachelor's degree in education from Southeast Missouri State University and later received her master's of science in education from Southeast Missouri State University.

A longtime educator, Mrs. Turner began her career as an elementary school teacher, and later she became a special education teacher. She then was the education coordinator at Cottonwood Residential Treatment Center and later worked at the Indiana Resource Center for Autism at Indiana University. She had served as the Director of the Jefferson Alternative School, and she retired as the principal at Taylorsville Elementary School. After retirement, Mrs. Turner was a board member of Ovar'coming Together.

She had a lifelong passion for educating others, which continued in her desire to educate women about ovarian cancer. She was honored to receive the Spirit of Women National Community Hero Award for 2014 for her contributions.

She had a zest for life and appreciated God's blessings every day. Her greatest joy was spending time with her family.

Mrs. Turner was a member of Phi Delta Kappa and Delta Kappa Gamma education fraternities and Psi Iota Xi sorority. She was a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow and a member of the First Christian Church in Columbus.

Mrs. Turner is survived by her husband, Arthur; her mother, Rose Marie Baugus of Cape Girardeau; children, Sarah (Moore) Foote and husband, Aaron, of Cape Girardeau, Natalie (Moore) Saupe and husband, Wayne, of Jackson, Brian (Cathy) Turner of Gilbert, Arizona, Julie Gibson (Daryl Wyatt) of Kansas City, Missouri, Jean (Toby) Waters of Nampa, Idaho, and Jill Turner (Jason Scheel) of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin; grandchildren, Ellie, Mia and Lila Foote, Kendall Saupe, Sam, Will and Emma Gibson, and Mary Jo and Mackenzi Turner; a sister, Jacquelyn (Steve) Rafferty of Tucson, Arizona and nephews, Blake (Gretchen) Rafferty of Seattle, and Scott (Trisha) Rafferty of Ogden, Utah.

Mrs. Turner was preceded in death by her father, C.A. Baugus, and a brother, James Baugus.

Family and friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Barkes, Weaver and Glick Funeral Home on Washington Street in Columbus.

A celebration of life will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at First Christian Church of Columbus, with Dan Wallace officiating.

An additional celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. Dec. 13 at Abbey Road Christian Church in Cape Girardeau, with Dan Wallace officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to Ovar'coming Together of Indianapolis, 2625 N. Meridian St., Suite 108, Indianapolis, IN 46208; First Christian Church, 531 Fifth St., Columbus, IN 47201; or the donor's choice of charities.

Online condolences may be sent to Mrs. Turner's family at barkesweaverglick.com.