Marion Turk Spencer

Marion Turk Spencer of Alachua died peacefully surrounded by family and friends at Florida Hospital in DeLand on April 13 2015 Marion was born on Feb. 18, 1930 to Marie and Arthur Turk of Tifton, Ga., weighing in at 4 pounds. She and her brother Arthur (Chip) and sister Feliste, grew up in Tifton where she developed a passion for music. She began playing the piano at the age of 8 and attended Elon College in North Carolina where she earned her bachelor’s degree in music education. After graduation, she moved to High Springs, Fla., where she began her career teaching music at Alachua Elementary and Spring Hill Elementary schools to students in kindergarten through fourth grade. Marion married Arthur Prescott Spencer Jr. on July 30, 1961. She and Arthur spent 50 happy years together in Alachua until his death in 2012. A devoted wife, mother and grandmother, Marion enjoyed sharing her love of music with both her elementary and Sunday school students. She had taught more than 30 years at Alachua Elementary School, and served many years as the choir director and pianist at the First United Methodist Church of Alachua. Fondly remembered by her Sunday school students for her dedication to the Church music program, Marion also delighted in working with the choir at Spring Hill United Methodist Church. In addition to her love of music, she also enjoyed playing bridge, fishing, traveling and spending time with her family and friends. Marion is survived by daughter Beverly Evans and son-in-law Mike Evans of DeLand; grandchildren Leyton, Spencer and Erika Evans of DeLand; sister Feliste Ellis of Lancaster, S.C.; and sister-in-law Jackie Turk of Athens, Ga. Family in Alachua include brother-in-law Tom Spencer and sisters-in-law Mildred Copeland Cason and Quinnell Swick. In addition to her husband, Marion is preceded in death by her son Arthur Prescott Spencer III (Scott). Funeral services will be held Monday, April 20, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church of Alachua, 14805 N.W. 140th Street with Pastor Lamar Albritton Jr. officiating. Burial will follow in Newnansville Cemetery. The family will receive friends Sunday, April 19, 2015 from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.at WILLIAMS-THOMAS FUNERAL HOME WESTAREA, 823 N.W. 143rd Street, Newberry, FL. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Alachua.

Marion Turk Spencer

February 18, 1830 - April 13, 2015