Sandra Turner

Sandra Rea Lister Turner “Sandy”, 70, of Golden, Colorado died on January 9th in Iowa City Iowa during a visit with her daughter. Sandy died peacefully and with dignity with her entire immediate family in attendance after a brief hospital admission for complications from her Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease).

Sandy was born on April 1, 1943 in Watsonville California to Thomas and Miriam (Twyman) Lister. She graduated from Watsonville High School in 1960 and from California State Polytechnic University (San Luis Obispo) in 1964 and was class valedictorian in both cases. Sandy then became one of the first women to receive a Master of Science degree in Computer Science from Purdue University in 1966.

Sandy met her husband Alan Keith Turner at Purdue and they were married in Watsonville in August 1966. They moved to Golden in 1972 when her husband joined the Colorado School of Mines faculty. Sandy enjoyed a long career at the U.S. Geological Survey. Beginning in 1978, she held a series of increasingly senior positions responsible for the operation of computers and information services for the Colorado Water Science Center and the National Water Quality Laboratory.

Sandy was always bright, cheerful, helpful and kind. Her co-workers remember her mentoring and support for new employees and her sage advice on many topics. Sandy enjoyed watching her three children – Cameron, Melissa, and Bryan – mature into adults with post-graduate degrees and careers in diverse fields. Together the family traveled extensively throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe.

When Sandy was diagnosed with the incurable ALS disease in June 2011, many were amazed with how she faced this challenge with determination, courage, smiles, and continued expressions of hope. With regular visits to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, Sandy continued to work until retirement in June 2012.

Sandra is survived by her husband of 47 years, her three children, two sisters (Mary Lou Gould and Mimi Bennetts) and one brother (Tim Lister) as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service was held at the Olinger-Woods Funeral Chapel in Golden at 10 am on Saturday March 29, followed by a reception at her son Cameron’s home in Golden. Interment was on Monday March 31 at the Golden Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the ALS Association at http://www.alsa.org/donate in the name of Sandy Turner.

Sandy's memorial service may be viewed at http://apps.attainresponse.com/ComF5/videoPlayer.htm?playerId=0&videoId=ln9aZtVTbDCP-cOa6r3-oQ..&width=640&height=500

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