Mildred Louise Turi

Mildred Louise (Horton) Turi, gained her angel wings on Tuesday, April 12, 2016, at the age of 98. She was born February 27, 1918 to Tylmon and Ronnie Horton. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Thomas Horton; sister, Lucille Horton; and son, Patrick Turi. She was raised on a farm close to the river banks in Stanley, KY. Her family attended to a lighthouse at the bend in the river. She enjoyed a delightful childhood on the farm and shared many of these fond memories with her children and grandchildren. She will be deeply missed by so many, but will always and forever be in their hearts!

Louise attended Owensboro Daviess County High School. She worked at Ken-Rad for 8 years in Owensboro, KY. She came to work in Evansville during World War II as a "Rosie the Riveter". She also worked at Servel and Briggs. While visiting at Camp Breckenridge for a dance, she met her husband Baldo "Al" Turi. They were married in 1943. Al passed away in March of 2003. They had five wonderful sons together and shared their love of dancing.

Louise was an active member of the Moose Auxiliary where she filled every Officer's Chair. She was also the Chairman of the Academy of Friendship, a position that she held for many years. Louise was also a member of the Eagles Auxiliary. She loved the clubs activities, especially the dances and the many good friends she made during her active years.

In 1952, she went to work at L. Berman and Company. From L. Berman, she went to Zenith and worked until 1982 when she retired after 30 years. While at Zenith she became a member of the IUE/AFL Electrical Union. Louise was a Union Steward and Counselor. She negotiated the first Union contract and was part of the Negotiating Committee for all contracts after that between the Union and Zenith.

She was a former member of Stanley Methodist Church, in Stanley, KY. She was also a member of North Park Wesleyan Church in Evansville. She loved her Church and had many good friends there.

More importantly than her work in the Union and with the Auxiliaries was Louise's role as a mother to her five sons. She was absolutely their rock! She gave them strong, deep roots that have made them wonderful fathers, husbands, and friends. She was very proud of each of them and looked forward to the special dinners held at their homes. This ever-growing family never outgrew Mama Turi's home on Florida Street. She always had plenty of room for her children, grandchildren, and their friends to join them. Everyone knew they were always welcome, loved and accepted. Louise was a friend and beacon of strength to everyone that met her.

She is survived by her four sons, Thomas Al (Gayle), Michael Wayne (Cheryl), Gerald Joseph (Beth), Kenneth Robert, and daughter-in-law, Beverly Turi; twelve grandchildren; Scott, Shawn, Anthony, Giovanni, Dominic, Robert, David, Mario, and Lorenzo Turi, Krista Turi Hobgood, Tiffany Turi Williams, and Shannon Turi Storch; twenty great-grandchildren; Candace and Chelsea Welder, Zac, Kayla, Shauncey, Sabrina, Sierra, Ilaria, Ariana, Logan, Stevie, Draelia, Luciana, and Giavella Turi, Holden and Hailey Williams, Michael Sisley III, Sunny Goodman, Skylyn and Keydon Storch; and two great-great-grandchildren; Aubri Schnell and Beckham Williams. She is also survived by a very special nephew, Dennis Horton, a life long, best friend Evelyn Wilson Kelly; several cousins in Owensboro, Russelville, and Louisville, KY, Farmington, NM, Nazareth, TX and St. Petersburg, FL. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews in New York, Vermont, Pennsylvania, and Florida and many dear friends in the Evansville area.

Visitation will be held from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 15, 2016, at Ziemer Funeral Home Central Chapel, 626 N. First Avenue, Evansville, IN 47710 and will continue from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday at the funeral home.

Funeral services will begin at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 16, 2016, at Ziemer Funeral Home Central Chapel officiated by Pastor Steve Boardman.

Burial will follow in Alexander Memorial Park Cemetery.

The family would like to thank the staff of Heritage Health Care for their exceptional care, the visits from her church family, and her son Tom, for his everyday loving devotion to his mother.

Memorial Contributions may be made to North Park Wesleyan Church, 3360 N. First Avenue, Evansville, IN 47710 or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 1941 Bishop Ln # 108, Louisville, KY 40218.