Phyllis Jane Turner

Phyllis Jane (Slocum) Turner 88 passed away on Thanksgiving Day Nov 23, 2023 in Tucson AZ. Born May 26th, 1935 in Chicago IL, Phyllis grew up in nearby Palos Heights. Her father, Harold, a respected engineer, and her mother Olive, an all-around trickster, were instrumental in helping her hone a quick wit and sense of humor which she passed on to her children and grandchildren.

Due to her brother Jerry’s health, the family often spent childhood winters at Jupiter FL where at age 7, Phyllis and Jerry would help the war effort in 1942 by serving as plane spotters. She always remembered the call signal “One Bi High Ray One Four East” which was used to identify planes flying toward the coast.

When Phyllis wasn’t sneaking out of the window meeting up with friends to smoke cigarettes, she was studying hard and graduated from Lions Township High School in LaGrange IL. While going to college, she spent summers at the Grand Canyon flirting with customers while working in the soda shop where her methods worked and she met her future husband Sam Turner. After receiving her Bachelors in Education from the University of Arizona, she married Sam in 1957 on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

After Phyllis dedicated several years to teaching (and was recognized as Teacher of the Year), Phyllis retired from her teaching career to raise a family. She spent many years volunteering with La Leche League International and was instrumental in starting the regional chapter for breastfeeding education in Southern Arizona and beyond.

She never tired of telling her children and grandchildren the stories of her childhood antics and mishaps. She was fondly nicknamed “Grandma Books” because she always had a book available, a lap to sit on, and time to read to them. Her fun and competitive nature was evident in the hours she enjoyed playing games with her children as well as playing bridge with friends. She always had time to spend hours on the phone laughing with her sister Ruth and was quick to fly out and lend motherly assistance when her niece, Hannah, was born.

After the tragic loss of their son Rob in 1997 Phyllis and Sam became very active and eventually leaders in the local chapter of Compassionate Friends. For 17 years, they comforted parents who had lost a child and helped them navigate the grieving process.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her son, Robert Eric Turner. She is survived by her husband Sam, her brother Gerald Slocum, her sister Ruth Slocum, her three remaining children Julie (& Chris) Shulick, Amy Zenizo, and Joe (& Jessa) Turner, as well as grandchildren, Stevie, Jessica, Nathan, Rebekah, Rachael, Zachary, Ethan, Sabrina and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

Everyone who knew Phyllis will remember her sense of humor, her loving nature, and her kindness. A celebration of life will be held at St. Francis in the Foothills, 4625 E River Road in Tucson at 3:00 PM on Saturday December 9th, 2023. In lieu of flowers please send donations to Saint Francis in the Foothills Methodist Church in Tucson or The Compassionate Friends International.