Aug. 31, 1951 — Aug. 28, 2022
Martha Isetta Turner was born on Aug. 31, 1951, in Oakland, California, the youngest of Wilma and Warren Turner’s five children. She is survived by brothers Wesley and wife Evie, Phillip and wife Jeri, sister Meg, and 11 nieces and nephews.
A role that she was most proud of was her role as a great aunt to 22 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sister Mary Jo, brother-in-law Rolland Schroeder and nephew Peter Schroeder.
She followed her cousin Erik as president of Carl B. Munck Elementary School, where she began her career in education. Her journey took her all the way to a doctorate in Global Education from Oregon State University. In line with her major she spent two years in Japan on a fellowship. She authored several articles and book chapters.
Teaching grades from kindergarten through high school in Yuba City; Dobbins; and Olivehurst, all in California; she began her doctorate studies at California State University, Hayward before accepting an assistant professorship at Ashland’s Southern Oregon University. She was an early developer and user of online class presentations.
Retiring as Professor Emeritus, she continued writing and tutoring the remainder of her life. After years of ill health, she passed away peacefully at home on Aug. 28, three days before her 71st birthday.
Burial and a memorial service for Martha will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, at Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, California.
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