Deborah Lynn Turk's Obituary
Deborah Lynn Turk
Comforted by her family, Deborah Lynn (Anderson) Turk passed from this life in Gainesville, Florida, March 26, 2023, following a nine-month battle with lung cancer. She was 73. She will be remembered as a caring, loving, and beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and servant to others.
Debbie was born in Charleston, West Virginia. She is survived by her husband of 49 years, James Donald Turk, Sr., her daughter Christina Lynn Smith (Keith) of Gainesville, and son James Donald Turk, Jr. (Amanda) of Fairfax, Virginia, and seven grandchildren. She is survived by her two sisters, Pamela Carroll of Mulberry, Florida, and Judy Anderson of Lakeland, Florida. She was preceded in death by parents Arthur Earl Anderson and Osie Marie (Miller) Anderson.
Debbie graduated from Ridgewood High School in Ridgewood, New Jersey, in 1967. She then became a Registered Nurse following her training at the Clara Mass Hospital in Belleville, New Jersey. Following a short period of employment at Clara Moss Hospital, she followed her family’s move to Lakeland, Florida, in 1970. She then worked in intensive care and emergency care nursing units at hospitals in Plant City, Tampa, and Winter Haven, Florida, and as a ward nurse at North Florida Hospital in Gainesville. She later transferred her skills to office nursing in Fairfax, Virginia.
After her nursing career, she taught pre-school in Plano, Texas, and performed medical and insurance billing for a company in Fairfax, Virginia.
Debbie was always involved in her children’s lives in such activities as a church youth counselor and Bible Bowl coach, Cub Scout den leader, and Blue Bird group leader. She treasured annual “family beach weeks” with her grandchildren at Anna Maria Island.
She always looked forward to the nearly two-decades of multi-week “Fearsome Five” RV camping trips with her sisters and friends to locations from one corner of the country to the other – from Maine to Montana to Florida, and many states in between.
Debbie lived her faith in God and Jesus Christ and donated much time in service at the congregations where she and her family attended. Often referred to as “the resource room lady,” she spent many hours helping manage teacher resource rooms at the Pitman Creek Church of Christ in Plano, Texas, and Fairfax Church of Christ in Fairfax, Virginia, designing bulletin boards and classroom materials for Bible classes, as well as teaching materials for a University City Church of Christ’s (Gainesville, Florida) mission church in Honduras. She was very involved in support of the University City Church of Christ’s Addiction Recovery Program, including serving on its Steering Committee.
She was particularly close to a group of women who called themselves the “Crafty Ladies” at University City Church of Christ, whose activities including knitting items for patients and parents in the local hospitals.
She particularly enjoyed cooking for large groups such as congregational “fellowship meals” at church and in support of the University City church’s annual Prison Ministry fund raisers.
Debbie was especially accomplished in needle-work such as cross stich, crochet, and knitting, and produced many beautiful pieces, which she often gave away.
A Celebration of Life will be held in the Family Life Center of the University City Church of Christ, Gainesville, Florida, on Saturday, April 8, beginning at 11:00 a.m. with remarks at 12:00 p.m. Burial will be at the Florida National Military Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida.
In lieu of flowers, donations are requested for the “Tunnels to Towers Foundation” (www.T2T.org).
What’s your fondest memory of Deborah?
What’s a lesson you learned from Deborah?
Share a story where Deborah's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Deborah you’ll never forget.
How did Deborah make you smile?