Joan Dianne Turk ne’e Smith of 10930 Turnpike Rd. Clermont, FL 34715 passed away peacefully at her residence on Sunday morning November 30, 2025. She was surrounded by her loving family as she took her final breaths. She was 80 years young when she passed over Jordan.
Dianne was born to Mertis Glenn Smith & Everlenia Smith nee Young on January 15, 1945, in Dover, Florida. She was their fourth born child to a family of 10 siblings. She was born while her Father was away serving in World War II. As a result, her Father did not get to see his new baby girl until she was almost 1 year old because he was on a carrier ship getting transported back home. Dianne was a lifelong member of the Baptist Purity Church. Church was where she met the love of her life, Rubin Lee Turk, when they were children. She joked around that he never noticed that freckled faced little girl making eyes at him util they were much older!
Dianne is predeceased in death by her loving parents; Mertis Glenn Smith and Everlenia Y. Smith. Her brothers; Audrey Glenn Smith, Jerry Douglas Smith, Gerald Ray Smith. Her sister; Evelyn Montaine Smith, and her beloved nephew; Aaron Phillip Holder.
Dianne is survived by her loving husband Rubin Lee Turk of 47 years of happy marriage and intense moments of fellowship (that is what she called their disagreements!). Her brothers; Dervin Paul Smith & James Royce Smith. Her sisters; Betty Joyce Searcy, Syble Irene Crumb, and Rhoda Glenise Holder. Her son; Dwayne Shelton Searcy (Marilyn Searcy), Stephanie Rene’e Gomber ne’e Turk (Brent Hazen), Andrea Maria Lombardi ne’e Turk (Russell Lombardi), Amanda Lee Cruz ne’e Turk. Her 7 grandchildren, Austin Gomber (Rachel Gomber), Amanda Roberts ne’e Searcy (Jeff Roberts), Rocco Alexander Brown, Connor Lee Turk, Xander Arthur Brown, Brody Tuff Brown, and Carli Rene’e Turk. Her 4 great grandchildren, Beckham Gomber, Charlie Gomber, Adalyn Rae Gomber, and Jillian Roberts. Her many nieces and nephews, all of which she called her favorite to them only! And too many other family members and friends to name.
Dianne had so many talents and gifts that she always used to give back to the world. She graduated from Chipley Medical College in Chipley, Florida as an LPN and worked in many places, including Chipley Mental Hospital, a nursing home in Honolulu, HI, and Tampa General Hospital. She primarily worked in the Emergency Department and Labor & Delivery. She also worked as a Mid- Wife. She never could say what her favorite department was, she simply loved being a nurse. When she gave her life over to Jesus and married Rubin, she quit working as a nurse so she did not have to work weekends, could go to church and raise their 2 beloved daughters. Dianne was unable to carry a baby to full term so Rubin and her decided to adopt two baby girls. Oh, how she loved her children and being a Momma! She then started Dianne’s Alterations & Custom Draperies. Her Momma & her created many beautiful custom home and commercial drapery designs. When Daddy was forced to retire, her nursing skills came in handy! She took excellent care of him at home for 6 months while he recovered in a traction bed in their living room. Right after that, she began her battle with Stage 4 breast cancer. She used her battle to inspire others that while the battle may be tough, it could be won! One thing you may not know about her is she got her pilot’s license and flew a plane solo! The first plane she ever got on, however, was a commercial flight to Korea by herself! My goodness, she was brave! She always loved to try new and adventurous things no matter what her age. On one of her dream trips to Alaska with her sisters and niece Krysta in March of 2022 at the age of 77 she decided to go down a slide made entirely of ice. She wound up in a hospital getting checked out! She was fine, but that was just another notch in belt showing she was not afraid to try anything! She could play the piano, guitar, and dulcimer completely by ear and sing like an angel. She shared her love of music with her nephews, Luke Smith, Aaron Holder, and grandson Rocco Brown and started them off on their own journeys of playing the guitar.
She always loved to be working outside mowing the grass and trying to grow flowers. In fact, she mowed her grass for the last time only 5 weeks before her death! We joked that for someone who loved flowers the way she did she certainly did not have a green thumb for growing them. But she could help Rubin grow vegetables in their garden! Then she would bring all their bounty inside and start canning!
Her love of music and laughter was unparalleled! Aaron used to say that when Aunt Dianne laughed, you could not help but laugh with her because she laughed with her whole body. After her Momma died, she became the glue that held the family together. She filled the gaps where we needed it the most! She truly became our Matriarch in all ways. Always ready to share a laugh, send up a prayer, or lend a listening ear or helping hand, a void is left behind in our hearts and minds that can never be filled here on this earth.
This seems like such a short version of 80 years of a life well lived and filled with love but there simply are not enough words to describe what Dianne Turk accomplished or how many lives she impacted in that time. She leaves behind a legacy of love and care for others that we all should aspire to emulate.
Until we meet again, Momma!
