with son Steven
Mary Van Jo Turner Taylor
March 31, 1948 ~ October 11, 2009
Mary Van Jo Turner Taylor was born in Lubbock, Texas, on March 31, 1948 to parents Jesse Van Turner and Etta Thomas. She departed this life in Inglewood, California, on October 11, 2009.
Mary was a member of the Westchester Church of Christ and actively participated in the bible classes. She would often finish a long day at her job and then walk over to bible class after work. Her presence at the Westchester congregation will be missed.
Mary was raised by Aunt Lillie Mae Thomas ("Aunt Day") in Tucson, Arizona, and graduated from Tucson High School in 1967. At the age of 18, she moved to California and was united in marriage to Emmett Taylor in 1968. To this union was born one son, Steven Taylor.
Mary was a devoted mother, diligent employee, and a generous, caring person. She worked at various jobs in administrative positions. She was a secretary of the Normandie Church of Christ for five years and a conscientious employee at Airport Marina Counseling Service, a nonprofit, community-based mental health clinic that serves areas of Los Angeles. At AMCS she enjoyed helping others with her generosity of time and talents and was well loved by all her co-workers.
Survivors include her son, Steven of Los Angeles; stepdaughter, LaShawn Juneau of Fontana (California); nephews Jeremy Juneau of Fontana and Kalvin Walker of Texas; nieces JaNae Juneau of Fontana and Tiffany Turner of Texas. In addition Mary leaves a host of family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and by her brother, Marvin Louis Turner.
Obituary information provided by Steven Taylor and the Westchester Church of Christ, Los Angeles.
THS '67 Webmaster
From Steven Taylor, Mary Turner's son: For those who had not heard, Mom passed away on October 11th of 2009 in Inglewood, California, due to a brain aneurysm suffered in August of that year. She was 61 at the time. Mom lived a good life. She was working at the time. She loved shopping for fun things that were no longer available, especially old items from the 70's, which of course are nostalgic. And she attended church and bible studies regularly. She had me in 1969 and was in my life for 40 years. She loved to help others and was very supportive of me in my activities as a young man growing up. Like Mom, I became a musician and an athlete as well, and she was a BIG influence. For those who had been looking for her, when she moved to California, she went from being known as "Mary Van" to "Mary Jo." And then, of course, her married last name was Taylor. We lived in Inglewood, California pretty much all my life til the day she passed away. I'm the only child she had. She was a great lady, a great Mom.