Sally A. (Etter) Turner

Dr. Sally A. Turner. Born October 30, 1934 - April 24, 2022 at 87 years old.
Beloved mother, aunt, grandmother, community leader, excellent friend and retired veterinarian, Sally Ann Turner, left us after a fierce battle against dementia. On Easter Sunday 2022 Sally had a massive stroke and entered hospice care shortly after.

Sally was born to Charles and Mary (Olmstead) Etter in South Bend, Indiana. She moved with her family to various places in MI. During World War II, she and her parents lived in Owosso, Michigan and her father worked in an airplane factory there. Her father's heart was in farming and she moved to Perry, Michigan and then graduated high school from Grand Ledge, Michigan. Sally started young with a love of animals, she showed horses, ponies and cows in 4-H. She decided she wanted to be either a Latin teacher or a veterinarian. She was told not to bother to apply for vet school at MSU since she was a female but she didn't let that stop her. Her tenacity served her well in that area and she graduated in a class with 3 other female students in 1958. As one of her friends said "She was relentless in finding a way to get something done when faced with a challenge."

Sally met and married Donald G. Turner at MSU and they had 3 children; David, Steven and Mary. Together they founded Turner Veterinary Clinic. Sally's resilience came through for her over and over in her life. She survived the death of her oldest son when he was 14 years old and later a divorce. She took over the clinic in 1982 and continued practicing until she sold the practice to Dr. Benjamin Huelsbergen in 1998. Dr. Turner loved being a veterinarian and it gave such meaning to her life. She was at her best when dealing with a beloved pet's last moments and many people remember her for this, years after she retired. Sally was a great mentor to other veterinarians as well, always willing to share her knowledge. She was generous with her time and involved in many activities: Such as, various veterinary practice committees; Cub Scouts and Campfire girls; the Battle Creek Public School Board as President; Leila Arboretum and she was instrumental in keeping Kingman Museum alive. She loved the community of Battle Creek. Sally loved gardening and would start planning with seed catalogs around February every year.

Many will remember Sally was an excellent cook and hostess. So many BCCHS marching band parties, Tree Trimming parties and smaller dinner parties. She was known for her cheesecake and her chocolate goat's milk ice cream that was served at the Turner, Stroud, Mumford, Murphy, July 4th picnics. She also was a lover of children, she loved reading aloud to them. Sally doted on her Grandson Mitchell Turner; they shared a love of fishing. Many children called her "Grandma" Chris and Katie Sellers among others. Many knew her as "Aunt Sally" and she loved to give gifts, from cinnamon rolls to Christmas cookie trays that she started in October. She was up for anything and at the age of 81 drove a Segway through the streets of Sarasota Florida - at a snail's pace but she did it!

Friends will be received 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. Friday, May 6, 2022 at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, where a memorial service to celebrate Sally's life will be officiated by Pastor Chad Parmalee. The service will be livestreamed and may be viewed at: https://vimeo.com/703261296

In lieu of Flowers please consider donations to:
• Froggies Pond a Non Profit cat sanctuary for cats with FeLV & FIV (froggiespond.org)
• Meals On Wheels - Milestone Senior Services https://milestoneseniorservices.org/meals/meals-on-wheels
• David Scott Turner Memorial Vocal Music Award Scholarship - - Battle Creek Community Foundation, https://bccfoundation.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create?funit_id=1432. This scholarship was established to provide Vocal Music lessons to 8th or 9th grade students at Battle Creek Public Schools and Lakeview School District; or simply eat a delicious piece of chocolate and think of her.

Personal messages for the family may be placed above at "Leave a Memory" at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.