She was born in McMinnville, TN to the late Mildred and Larry Kelley. Patsy graduated from Chattanooga High School where she was voted Homecoming Queen in 1955. She went on to graduate from Baroness Erlanger School of Nursing and was employed by various physicians in the Chattanooga area over the years. She also did public health home visiting with the then Tennessee Health Department and Hamilton County. After her retirement, she enjoyed taking on the role of the unofficial “church nurse” at Rivermont Presbyterian.
Patsy married the late William Eugene (Bill) Turner in 1956 and was preceded in death by her daughter, Elizabeth (Beth) D. Taylor.
She is survived by her son Scott (Lisa) Turner of Greensboro, GA; her four grandchildren, Dr. Erin (Andrew) Norman of Knoxville, TN, Courtney (Josh) Buffalo of Marietta, GA, Michael Turner of Annapolis, MD and Holden Turner of Greensboro, GA.; two great-grandchildren, Tommy and Finley Buffalo of Marietta, GA; her brother, Larry (Janice) Kelley of Pikeville, TN and her three nephews, Mike Kelley, Alan Kelley, Wesley Kelley. Patsy also leaves behind many lifelong friends whom she also considered family.
After Patsy’s love of family, she loved her church home, Rivermont Presbyterian in Chattanooga. In 1960, she and her husband, Bill, joined Rivermont where she was very active in many aspects of the work and worship of the church including singing in the choir, women of the church, Stephen Ministry and was elected elder for three different terms. In 2019, she was awarded Elder Emeritus. Serving as the chair of the Columbarium Committee and Home Communion were both very important to her. However, Congregational Care was her “calling” as she put it. Taking a mission trip to Haiti to aid the Children’s Nutritional Program was always a favorite cause for service. She was known to many as “Kaki”, a name given to her by her grandchildren. She was a fantastic cook and a die-hard Vol fan. She loved life and possessed a wicked sense of humor along with compassion for all creatures great and small.
The family will receive friends from 1:30 – 3 PM Saturday, September 23, 2023 at the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, TN 37343.
A Celebration of Life service for Patsy will be held at 3 PM Saturday, September 23, 2023 in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Lina Hart officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Habitat for Humanity, the Alzheimer’s Association or Sacred Heart Hospice Home in Knoxville, TN.
Please visit www.chattanooganorthchapel.com to share your memories of Patsy.
