Frances Louise Turner Savoie

Frances Turner Savoie was born February 1, 1931 in Pontotoc County, Mississippi, and died peacefully Saturday, February 10, 2018. She was the widow of Ernest D. Savoie. She was predeceased by Wilburn A. Turner, to whom she had been married for 37 years and who was the father of her seven children. She was the daughter of the late Charles and Therrie Stone and the oldest of their thirteen children. Frances was preceded in death by sisters Jean Wilson Starkes, Mildred Hamilton, Sue Coats, Virginia Murphree, Barbara Cardwell, and Brenda Barnette. Frances was a resident of Olive Branch, Mississippi for thirty-nine years and moved to Memphis in 2001. She was a person of strong Christian faith and a life-long Baptist.

Frances graduated from Houston (MS) High School in 1949 with a close-knit class who called themselves the “49ers.” After the birth of her seventh child, she attended Memphis Area Vocational-Technical School to become a licensed practical nurse. She was recruited while a student by ICU head nurse, Bonnie Bramlitt, and worked most of the next twenty-eight years in the ICU at Methodist Hospital on Union Ave.

Frances was an avid reader. After retirement she became involved in teaching reading skills to adults. She was able to travel extensively. Her visit to Japan with friend and traveling buddy Janice Richardson was her favorite trip. She enjoyed trips with the Bluff City Canoe Club, particularly Yellowstone and Yosemite, and cheerfully drove shuttles for hikers and paddlers.

Faced with health issues in 2001, Frances informed her children that she would no longer drive a car. She continued to meet health challenges somewhat independently for the next fifteen years. She was in a senior living community in early 2010 when she met Ernest Savoie. After a few months Ernest and Frances announced their decision to marry. Her children were surprised, but happy for their mother. They came to know and love the gregarious Ernest as well. The children asked for some time to help plan the wedding. The couple agreed but cautioned that, “at our age, you can't wait too long.” They were married October 16, 2010 and Ernest passed away in 2013.

After being widowed Frances moved to the Mary Galloway Home where she lived happily for the next four years. Weekly visits by new friend Anne Bailey Greenlee and Anne's young daughter Lila were a joy to her.

Frances is survived by her seven children, daughters Margaret (Jim) Smith of Memphis and Karen (Terry) Hope of Harrison, AR, Judy Turner of Chesapeake, VA and sons, Wilburn “Doc” (Sherry) Turner of Jackson, TN, Rick (Lydia) Turner of Treasure Island, FL, Randy (Mary) Turner of Poolville, TX. And Andy Turner of Harrison, AR. She loved and doted on her 16 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Frances is survived by two sisters, Vickie (Mack) Darnell of Oxford, MS and Reda (Tommy) McFarland of Hot Springs Village, AR. She also leaves behind four brothers who all reside in Mississippi: Kenneth (Marcelle) Stone of Calhoun City, Charles (Sue) Stone of Potts Camp, David (Alice) Stone of Hernando and Billy (Dell) Stone of Strayhorn.

Frances Turner Savoie led a gentle life. She was grateful for what she was given and without resentment for what she was denied. Her children wish to thank the staffs at Trezevant Terrace and Tennessee State Veterans' Home (Humboldt) who provided care for their mother, and thank East Side Baptist Church for their ministry.

Family and friends will gather on Friday, February 16 from 12:30 p.m. until funeral services begin at 2:00 p.m. all at Family Funeral Care, 4925 Summer Avenue, Memphis, TN 38122. Burial will follow in Memphis Memory Gardens Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mary Galloway Home in Memphis. Online condolences may be offered through www.familyfuneralmemphis.com.