PITTSFIELD – Ethel LaTourette Turner, affectionately known as “Grandma Great,” 95, of Pittsfield, passed away on Jan. 4, 2013 at her home.
Ethel was born on March 26, 1917 at the LaTourette Homestead in Trout Creek, the daughter of Reed & Agnes (Millen) LaTourette Sr.
She attended Jackson District School which was located on her family’s homestead. During her first year at Deposit High School, she boarded in Deposit. In the following years she rode “Sherm’s” school bus to Deposit every day and always remarked that Sherm Wilcox was “one of the best school bus drivers in the country.” She was a 1933 graduate of Deposit High School and a 1936 graduate of Oneonta Normal School. She taught in Chaseville, NY for three years and then returned to her roots to teach in Delaware County at Jackson District School. In later years she was a substitute teacher at Deposit and New Berlin Central Schools.
On June 7, 1940 she married Theron R. Tuner. The ceremony was performed by Reverend R.L. Mauterstock in Cannonsville. The family resided in Cannonsville until the construction of the Cannonsville Reservoir in 1960 when they relocated to the family farm in Pittsfield.
Ethel is survived by her daughter-in-law; Karyl Turner of New Berlin; her grandchildren: Thomas & Colleen Ackerman of New Berlin, Kevin L. & Heather Morgan of Pittsfield, Matthew & Shannon Bell of Schuylerville and Stephen Turner of Kennesaw, Ga. She is also survived by her great grandchildren, Joseph & Megan Ackerman, Alexander Morgan, Elijah & Jeanetta Conklin, Ashley Morgan, Charles Ackerman, Maria Ackerman and Samantha Bell as well as great great granddaughter, Sherri Jean Conklin; many nieces, nephews and cousins and Steve Runion of Norwich, who was like a son to her.
She was predeceased by her husband Theron in 1976 and son Thomas in 2009. She was also predeceased by her brothers LoRaine, Glenn and Reed (Jr.) LaTourette, and her sister Gladys Foley.
Ethel was a member of the Cannonsville Baptist church and in recent years attended the South New Berlin Baptist Church. She belonged to the Pittsfield Homemakers and enjoyed rug hooking, embroidery, gardening and bird watching. She will always be remembered for her cooking and baking, especially for her cookies, macaroni and cheese, muffins, stuffing and “super secret recipe fruit salad.”
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the First Baptist Church, South New Berlin, with Pastor Barry Davis officiating.
Calling hours will be held on Monday from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Dakin Funeral Home LP, New Berlin.
Interment will be in the Fairview Cemetery, New Berlin.
Memorial donations may be made to the Pittsfield Emergency Squad or the South New Berlin Baptist Church.