Viola Louise Turner

Viola Louise Turner, age 98, of Jasper, passed away on Monday, December 5, 2022. She was born in Hagansport, Texas, on January 27, 1924, to John W. and Ida Holmes Smith.

Life gave her many blessings, many hills and many valleys; it formed within her a strength of character and of heart. She was loyal, faithful, and defined by love. Raised on a farm, she learned humility, the joy of family, and the value of an honest, hardworking mindset. Viola was faithful, and her walk with the Lord was made only stronger as she followed the path of her life. Scripture was important to her, and her Bible would be found nearby, kept by her, though the words were written in her heart, being able to recite much scripture from memory. To her loved ones, Viola was the toughest person they knew, to some even invincible, not because of great feats of strength but from her steadfastness and faithfulness, though to be fair, she once killed a gigantic rattlesnake with a garden hoe. She was a proud “Mamaw”, first to her beloved grandson Michael and, with time, a multitude of others found out how wonderful it was to have the chance to call her by that title. She had a green thumb and put much care into her yard and garden, once winning “Yard of the Month” for the entire town of Jasper. She was an artist, and she expressed it however she could, being a talented painter and an artist in the kitchen. You could not be in her presence and be hungry, because she would remedy that in a jiffy. Everything “Mamaw” made tasted better, because she made it with her special ingredient, love. From biscuits to desserts, from Salsa to her delicious preserves, she made everything taste wonderful. She was proud of her family and the time that she was able to spend with them, and though she outlived many of her dearest loved ones, she lived fully and lived well, reunited with them as she passed from this life to her Heavenly Home. Though she is gone, she lived well, and if she could be asked how she was doing, she would comfortingly respond with her signature reply, “I’m fine as frog hair!”. Viola will be missed, and her legacy of unhindered love forever cherished.

Left to cherish her memory is her grandson and “Darlin”, Michael Hanson and wife, Jeanette; sisters, Margie and Sybil; great-grandchildren, Michael “Mikey” Hanson and Bradley Jasper Hanson; and a host of extended family, friends, and loved ones.

Preceding Viola in death are her parents; first husband and father of her sons, Louie Lee Tillery; second husband, Randall Turner, lovingly known as “Papaw”; sons, Michael Tillery and Johnie Lee Tillery; and brothers, O’dell Smith and Bobby Smith.

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