DALLAS VIRGINIA MARY TURNER

Tuesday, November 5th, 2024 at Charleswood Care Centre in Winnipeg, Dallas Virginia Mary Turner (née Gauthier) passed peacefully at the age of 73.      

Surviving Dallas are her two daughters, Sharleen (Doug) and Angela (Rob); her six grandchildren, Alex, Taylor, Rebekah, Jesse, Ariel, and Richard; her sisters, Betty, Kathy (Robert), Bonnie (Jerry), and Darlene (Michael); along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other family and friends, near and far.

She was predeceased by her loving husband, Val; her parents, Andrew and Lenore; her sister Gloria; brothers-in-law, Wayne and Paul; and many aunts and uncles.

Here are some memories shared by her family and closest friends:

Her daughter, Sharleen, remembers, "My mother didn't work a traditional job growing up, but she never stopped working, doing odd jobs here or there, or volunteering. (I used to think she never did any work, boy was I wrong.) She was a loving wife and mother who put family and God above everything else. She was a Sunday School teacher at Evangel Chapel for a few years, and also the Evangel Eyes Newspaper editor and producer for a while. 

When my sister and I were teens, my parents decided to become foster parents. Fostering teenage girls is a feat in and of itself. I believe she touched a number of lives in a positive way. She would also babysit and do before and after school day care. Between all the odd jobs, there were a ton of crafts that accompanied any aspect of her life. When I was young it was Chenille bumps, bedazzlers and other such timely crafts. Sometimes the whole family got involved... do fuzzy dice, fishing lures, and teddy bears with movable arms ring any bells? In the last few years, she moved into crocheting hats for the homeless, and making cards for churches, nursing homes and of course for family occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries. 

My mom also had a whole other world of people she touched the lives of online. She was a member of an online Christian forum, they got almost the whole 4 corners of the globe praying for her at the end. She was creative, witty and had a good sense of humor. She was thoughtful and caring. There was not another person on this earth who knows me as much as she did. She will be greatly missed!"

Her daughter, Angela, shares, "When I was a kid, my mom and I would go for walks.  While we were walking, I would be holding her hand and she would squeeze my hand 3 times which meant “I love you”. I would then squeeze her hands 4 times which meant “I love you too!”

I also remember how I used to wait for the transit bus to go to school in Jr. High.  I would be standing at the bus stop, and could see our kitchen window while I was waiting.  Every morning, my mom would wait at that kitchen window and watch until I got on the bus safely.  No matter how many times I waved, she was watching and would always wave back.

My mom used to tell me often how proud she was of the woman I became, and the mother I was.  My mom is the reason I am the person I am today. Thank you, Mom, and I love you so much!  Love your carnation."

Her nephew, Paul, remembers: "Dallas was an extremely caring person who gave her time and energy to spread the word of God and affected countless lives. Whether it was Bible studies that she hosted, letters she wrote, music or sermon tapes she put together for people and gave away, she would do whatever it took to reach people that needed the love of Jesus. She also followed up by being an example of Jesus’ unconditional love by taking time to create and send out personalized birthday cards for her family, including extended family. These cards were an annual highlight for people lucky enough to receive them in their home mailbox at a time when everyone only communicates by email."

Her sister, Betty, recalls: "I remember one time we dropped by her house around supper time and she, being kind, invited us to stay for supper. Lynn and Morris just dropped in at the same time, so being a good host invited them also. Not sure what to do because she really did not make extra chili so she decided to add a TON of chili powder so no one would want more. We ate a few loaves of bread with the hot chili. She used to joke that Jesus fed a multitude with a few fish and she fed a multitude with spicy chili."

Her sister, Bonnie, remembers: "I used to love to call Dallas when I needed research done.  Especially on a topic in the bible.  She would do an amazing job and provide me with complete essays with references and footnotes. She would always call us to sing Happy Birthday!"

Her sister, Darlene, remembers: "My first memory of Dallas is one of grace. I was about five years old and decided to sneak into her bedroom on Hill Street. I vaguely remember a pole lamp standing from ceiling to floor, and the next thing I knew, it was down with a crash. Terrified that Dallas would punish me for sneaking in and ruining her lamp, I was in tears. I soon found out that love is forgiving and kind, and that her capacity to love ran deeper than my understanding of it. Throughout the years, that love grew, and in many ways, she was a maternal figure in my life. She took me into her home, shielding and protecting me when I needed a safe place to find peace. She introduced me to Elvis, Gidget, Frankie Avalon, and finally Jesus. Starting with a home Bible study for young teens, she taught us from God’s Word. Eventually, her passion for teaching extended to the entire family as she led Bible studies year after year. Perhaps the one thing that affected me most was a correspondence Bible course she enrolled in. Long before the internet, Dallas subscribed to snail-mail Bible studies that took her through the Word from Genesis to Revelation. I remember her studying the days of creation, reciting the words, “One bun, two blue, three tree...” She had a fascination with numbers, believing that each one added depth to God’s Word. Among them, 6 represented the weakness of man, 7 symbolized spiritual completeness, and 5 was the number of grace, seen in the five loaves Jesus used to feed the 5,000. It was then that I decided not only to engage in these studies myself but to write them, to give women the opportunity to learn the Bible from home. But that plan would take years to unfold—years of reading, studying, and calling the one person who seemed to have all the answers: Dallas. Every time the phone rang, she picked up, and before we said our goodbyes, she reminded me just how much I was loved. She went to be with the Lord 5 months and 5 days after her fall—a reminder of grace upon grace. An undeniable thumbprint of God, as if to say that her journey was held in His hands all along. Even in her passing, there's a sense of divine kindness and mercy, a reminder that His grace surrounds us, even in our deepest pain.

I had a chance to see her just before she went home. Leaning in to give her a hug, I left her with one final thought. “I’ll see you soon,” I said. “I’ll keep studying my Bible, learning God's word, and when it’s my turn to go, I’ll bring others with me.” And before we said our goodbyes, I reminded her just how much she was loved."

Her best friend, Tilly, recalls: "I am so grateful and blessed to have known Dallas for decades, literally.  We attended Evangel Chapel together and would often go to the Thunderbird Restaurant which was right next door to the Chapel for lunch after. There is one memory I won't easily forget, it still makes me laugh. I was at Dallas' home in Winnipeg beach for a few days of respite from work... I was a camera buff and, in the morning, I noticed she had not put her dentures in. I said nothing but started recording this on video. I asked her to smile and she posed and gave me a big smile and then she blurted out, "I have no teeth!!" Of all the fun times we had this was the funniest of all.  I will miss her very much. The last few months since her stroke we have had the sweetest fellowship together and at least from my side, we grew closer than we had ever been. Dallas had a wonderful sense of humor even after her stroke. She tried so hard to speak and even though I didn't understand I would remind her how in Psalm 139: 4 David says of the Lord. . . "4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether," and that God understood every word she spoke. Psalm 139 was a precious Psalm to read to her. She listened so intently with eyes closed. Precious memories..."

For those who were unable to say their goodbyes while she was still with us, we will be having an Open House for one last hoorah. From 12:00-4:00 on Saturday, November 16, 2024 at 279 Greenwood Ave.

Dallas’ family kindly requests that all of her friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour her memory by sharing photos, memories, and stories, using the comment section on this page.

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ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

530 St. Mary Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

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