Our sweet and feisty mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, Denise Doebbeling, passed away on February 21, 2022 in Salt Lake City, UT. A descendant of a founder of Seattle and the University of Washington, Asa Shinn Mercer, Denise was born September 5, 1942 to Osman Webb Mercer and Laura Frances Mercer (Maxwell).
Denise was above all else a gifted and prodigious lifetime teacher. Beginning with pre-schoolers in the early days of Head Start, Denise went on to earn her Masters Degree in Special Education at the University of Utah to teach the visually handicapped, including mastering braille and blind mobility training. Along the way she taught in elementary grade classrooms, Kol Ami religious school, and imparted her love of nature to young visitors to Red Butte Gardens as a volunteer. Also a lifelong learner, Denise studied for and celebrated a Bat Mitzvah in her 60’s. She became a student herself in retirement, regularly attending Osher courses through the University of Utah.
When not in the classroom, Denise shared her vocal talent as a member of the Kol Ami Choir and developed her artistry in drawing. A great fan of the arts, she was a regular subscriber to the Utah Symphony, Ballet West, Pioneer Theater, and Utah Shakespeare Festival. Her commitment to fitness ranged from running marathons and distance cycling in her younger years, to attending water aerobics well into her late 70’s. She also enjoyed decades of skiing and hiking in the Wasatch Mountains. One of her greatest joys was working summers in fire fighting support for the US Forest Service. Denise was politically engaged and felt passionate about saving wildlife and the environment. As a bird watcher, she never missed an Audubon bird count and was famous for her bird friendly back yard, even as a cat (and dog) lover. With her beloved late husband Stuart Turkanis, she realized her dreams of traveling to Israel and Alaska. As a couple, they also enjoyed great food, good wine, and smart conversation. She shared and passed on her many interests to her daughters and grand children, who were inspired by her vibrancy and passion.
An adored member of Congregation of Kol Ami, Denise has been honored for her nearly five decades of service and contributions to the community. With her big smile and easy laugh, Denise will be dearly missed by her family, many friends, neighbors, and community colleagues. Denise leaves behind her daughter, Susan Garell; grandchildren, Jacqueline Garell, and Nicholas Jenkins (Tiffany); great-grandsons, Quinton Jenkins and Griffin Jenkins; brother, Richard Mercer (Anne); step-son, Jonathan Turkanis; step-daughter, Rebecca Turkanis, and step-grandson, Leo Liggins, nieces and nephews, and longtime assistant, caregiver, and friend, Shelley Purser. Pre-Deceased by husband, Stuart Turkanis; daughter, Angela Jenkins; and sister, Jeanie Stoker.
A Celebration of Life is planned for the spring. To receive details, please email: [email protected]
Donations are encouraged to Defenders of Wildlife, Adopt a Native Elder, and PBS Utah.
