Skip to content

Mary (Katie) Katheryn Turley (nee Clark) passed away after a lengthy illness on December 28, 2009 at her residence Crestview Care Village at the age of 83 years.

Mary was born on April 26, 1926 in Watertown, Tennessee to parents Elsie and Edward Clark. After her marriage to Edward in 1948, Mary moved from Tennessee to a ranch in Montana. In the early 1960’s she moved with her family to the Chilcotin in British Columbia. She never got used to the cold. She is fondly remembered for using a butter knife to scrape the frost off the inside of the kitchen window so she could see the temperature reading on the outside thermometer. When her suspicions were confirmed (yes...sometimes the readings were in the minus fourty and fifty degree Fahrenheit range) she would exclaim “Brrrrrr” and pull her sweater tighter around her shoulders. Mary learned how to cook a delicious meal using a wood stove and her specialty was southern fried chicken. Mary liked fishing and gardening and enjoyed cultivating her tomatoes and beans and colourful zinnias. Once her children were older she worked in retail sales for many years. She also did volunteer work at the Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops. On weekends, Mary liked going to garage sales and out for lunch with her friend Marie.

Mary was predeceased by her daughter Judy Moon in September 2009, son-in-law Shiraz Ali in 2001, brother George and parents Elsie and Edward Clark. She will be dearly missed by her husband Edward, daughters Teresa Ali of Cranbrook, Marcella (Rod) Spence of Revelstoke, Ann (Richard) Olesen of Victoria, sons Mike (Karen) of Penticton, Clark (Dayle) of Grande Prairie, AB, Pat (Linda) of Campbell River, son-in-law Charles Moon of Creston, grandchildren Chris (partner Dennis), Brian (partner Denise), Ryan, Kirsten, Nicole, Lindsey, Travis, Michaela (Dale) Tegan (fiance Dan), Angela, Kaitlyn, Dave (Annette), Maria (Warren), Jenny, as well as great grandchildren Jane, Stephanie and Aurora.

Mary demonstrated great strength of character and perseverance under difficult circumstances. She was greatly respected and loved by her family. Rest in peace Mother.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held in the summer in Cranbrook, BC when the grass is green, the zinnias are bright and the weather is warm.

Friends wishing to make a memorial contribution may do so the Creston Valley Hospice Society, Box 436, Creston, BC V0B 1G0




Your condolences will be approved within one business day. You will need a valid Facebook account. Please email us if you have any questions.