Betty Jean (Turner) Deonier Obituary
Betty Jean Turner was born in Lakeland, Florida on Dec 14th 1926. She died in Astoria Oregon on August 17th, 2018 Many of her friends call her Betty Boop. She was preceded in death by her parents Vachel and Willie Turner, her sister Letha and husband Don Jordan. Also by her daughter Darla from a car accident and Bill, her husband due to a heart ailment.
She is survived by her son Dean and his wife Debbie, sons Clint, Nicholas, and Jason, and Daughters Shannon and Krystle. Clint’s family includes his wife Nora and great grandsons Mateo and Lucas. Krystle’s family includes her husband, Matthew Tanner and great grandsons Michael and Lawsen.
Betty Jean was very independent and self-reliant, she liked to do things her way. She experienced an injury at birth that left her partially paralyzed on the right side of her body. She had a malady that is known as cerebral palsy. Her right arm and hand became withered. She was different from her friends and classmates. She lived at a time when disabilities were often ignored or shunned, even mocked. Her response often included a
lightning fast left hook. Her older sister, Letha often joined in the melee.
Betty and Letha enjoyed growing up together. They would often ride together in the rumble seat of Dad’s Ford delivering pies, cakes and bread from Daddy’s bakery. They played board games and listened to radio shows. Betty’s favorite show was “Let’s Pretend”. Sometimes on the
weekend they would go to the theater. Betty’s favorite cartoon character was Betty Boop. They also enjoyed swimming at the lake and helping
Uncle Elam in the squash field.
For a time both Vachel and Willie were working and relied on family to help watch the kids. Aunt Lucille was Betty’s favorite. Betty would say
“She’s not Lucille, she’s My-cille.” Her Aunt Olive and Uncle Elam were active in the Boy Scouts for many years. Betty had been working in her dad’s
bakery for some time before Olive decided to send over one of their graduates who was now 23 years old to see Betty Jean, then 20 years old. Bill arrived at the bakery asking to see Betty Jean. Betty said, “Wait a minute, I’ll go get her”. Back she went to comb her hair and put on some lipstick before introducing herself.
Willard Munson Deonier and Betty Jean Turner were married at the 1st Baptist Church in Lakeland on 12 Jun 1949. They had their honeymoon in
Oregon and decided to move to Portland. Darla was born in 1950 and Dean came along in 1952. As a housewife, Mom nurtured her children. Dad was the disciplinarian. Our family was converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 1957. She fulfilled church callings in the nursery, teaching in primary and she especially enjoyed working in the library and cannery assignments. She attended the Portland 1st Ward on 30th and Harrison.
After 33 years of marriage, Dad died of a heart ailment. He was 59. She lived as a single widow for 36 years. She worked in the laundry at Deseret
Industries for almost 8 years. She moved to Salt Lake City in 1998. She did volunteer work in the cafeteria at the Salt Lake Temple. She also liked to knit and crotchet making blankets for friends and family and many knitted caps for newborns at the nearby hospital.
She loved to joke around and find the lighter side of things. Her friends have enjoyed her company and are missing her.
