Mary Elizabeth Turner

Mary Elizabeth Turner, age 98, of Knoxville, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 10, 2025, after a long battle with dementia.

Mary was born on January 20, 1927, in Knoxville, Tennessee, to Clifford and Grace Smith. She grew up in Knoxville and developed a lifelong love of music at an early age. In her younger years, she performed live on WNOX Radio and had a natural talent for playing the guitar—an instrument she taught herself to play entirely by ear.

In 1946, Mary married Claude Turner, and the two remained devoted to one another for 52 years until his passing in 1998.

For nearly 20 years, Mary worked at Middlebrook Play School in Knoxville, providing care for countless toddlers during that time.

Above all, Mary was devoted to her family. She is survived by her only son, Wayne Turner of Knoxville, Tennessee; her only grandchild, Melissa Carter (Robert) of Heiskell, Tennessee; two great grandsons, Brendan Carter (Chelsey) and William Carter; and four great-great-grandchildren, Greyson, Griffen, Graham, and Isabella. She was preceded in death by her husband Claude Turner, and her parents, Clifford and Grace Smith.

In her 98 years of life, Mary Turner witnessed a world transformed. She was born in an era before television, when radios carried live music and families gathered around for stories of hope and song. Over the decades, she saw the world move from the Great Depression through world wars. and the rise of computers and smartphones that connected people across the globe. Through every change — from hand-written letters to video calls, from simple front-porch living to an age of constant innovation — Mary remained steady and took delight in the modern age. Her lifetime bridged nearly a century of progress, yet her greatest legacy was timeless: the love she gave and the lives she touched.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 12, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Mynatt’s Funeral Home in Fountain City. A private burial will follow on Thursday at Piney Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff of Holston Health and Rehab for their compassionate care and kindness during Mary’s final years.