Catherine "Cathy" Jean Turner

Catherine Jean Cunningham Turner, or Cathy to her many friends, was born on November 17, 1952 in Greeley, CO, the daughter of Ida Lee and William Joseph Cunningham. The family would later move to Tahlequah, OK. In high school, Cathy played oboe and was on the speech and debate team. Cathy had a full music scholarship to Stephens College in Missouri, yet she chose to attend NSU and obtained her Bachelors of Arts degree in Speech Communication. She worked toward a Master of Arts in Communication from the University of Arkansas and did all but finish her thesis. On June 28, 1975, she married her husband and best friend, Dorian Randall Turner, on the Illinois River at sunrise. They married after only three months of dating and enjoyed forty years of love and selfless devotion. This union was blessed with three children, Austin, Sarah, and Molly.

First and foremost, Cathy was a devoted daughter, wife, mother, sister, teacher, and friend. Her family was the most important part of her everyday activities. She loved doing all she could to make her house a home. She was always available to help her children, and offer her home and a bowl of her homemade taco soup to anyone who came to her door. Cathy loved people and never met a stranger. She was incredibly kind, thoughtful, and had a way about her that made everyone she met feel welcome and comfortable. She loved going to see movies like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Harry Potter. She collected toys, from antiques to dolls, and had recently begun collecting for her granddaughter, Grace. She liked scrapbooking, sewing, and art of all kinds. Her Pomeranians were always at her side and she adored her canine companions, Lois Lane, Willow, Little Man, and Chloe.

She was always proud of her hometown of Tahlequah and worked tirelessly as a servant for her community. In the 22 years she lived here, she volunteered with the PTA, AAUW, Tahlequah Public Schools Foundation, Help In Crisis, Sequoyah Institute, NSU Centennial, NSU Summer Arts Camps, and countless other organizations. After publishing a book, and working as a costume designer for almost 30 years, she started her teaching career at age 60 at Tahlequah High School in the English department, furthering her dedication to education. Before Cathy declared her membership in the Baha’í Faith in 1974, she was active growing up in the Tahlequah Methodist Church her father, Joe, helped to build. She played the piano every week in church services and served as a youth member on the church annex board. Later, Cathy served the Baha’í Faith through service to the Oklahoma Baha’í School for over 20 years.

Cathy went to her eternal rest on Wednesday, September 2, 2015 in Tulsa, OK with her family by her side. She was 62 years old. Her love of life and the many gifts she brought to this life will be cherished by her family, friends and students.

Cathy is preceded in death by her father, Joe Cunningham and her stepmother, Mary Kelly.

Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, Dr. Randall Turner of the home in Tahlequah, and her three loving children, Austin Lee Turner and wife Lua Tuomi of McAlester, OK, Sarah Turner McGowen and husband Dustin of Tahlequah, OK, and Molly Turner also of Tahlequah, OK. She leaves one sister, Carol Cunningham of Woodstock, VT, her adored granddaughter, Grace McGowen, also of Tahlequah, her mother, Ida Lee Werkheiser and stepfather Richard Werkheiser of Bella Vista, AR, as well as many cousins, and a host of students, friends, and loved ones.