Obituary: Turnmire, Irene (Hays)
Age 82
TURNMIRE, Irene (Hays)
Passed peacefully from this life to her true home to be with her Lord and Savior on June 1, 2012.
She had just celebrated her 82nd birthday days before, her room packed with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
That was a great day, full of smiles and laughter.
Irene was born in McKeesport, PA on May 15th, 1930 to Beatrice and Benjamin Hays.
She grew up in the small town of West Elizabeth, PA, graduating High School as valedictorian.
After getting a Bachelor’s degree in education, she attended seminary to get her Master’s degree and that’s where she met her future husband, David Lee Turnmire, Sr. Just days after graduation, they were married and started their life as Presbyterian minister and wife.
They raised three sons, David Lee Turnmire, Jr., Stephen Hays Turnmire, and William Preston Turnmire, and one daughter, Mary Ann (Turnmire) Naylor.
Together, the family lived in Pennsylvania, California, and Idaho, and back again to California where Irene and Dave lived until retirement.
The final move for both of them was to their retirement home in Selma, CA, the house that Dave’s parents retired to and left to him.
After Irene’s life long love passed away in 2000, she moved to Spokane WA to be close to William and his family as well as Mary Ann and her family.
Even though some of her grandkids were almost adults, she made up for lost time by always having a piece of chocolate in her purse or pocket to give them.
She lived in a new, custom built home; her first bought home and created beautiful garden beds as she had always done along the way all those years.
She missed her love, Dave, but continued on with her life mission of serving her biggest love, her Father in Heaven.
Helping refugees from other countries was Irene’s desire always, sometimes having them live with her until they were settled.
She adored the way her four grown children, as different as they each were in politics, religion, and lifestyles, respected each other and she often told them, “Dad would be so proud of the way you all love each other.”
Irene will be buried next to her husband in the Fowler Cemetery in Fowler, CA on June 11th at 10:00 am with a graveside service.
On June 16th at 4:00pm, a memorial service will be held at Hamblen Park Presbyterian Church in Spokane, WA.
She is survived by all four kids, seven grandkids, and fifteen great grandkids.
In Irene’s memory, please make donations to organizations that help poor people in struggling countries, or refugees here in the U.S.