September 13, 1928–July 15, 2023
Our wonderful Mother and Gram is with her Lord and Savior. She was longing to go home while enduring recent surgery and illness, so surrounded by her family she joined her eternal loved ones at 10:25 p.m. at Bliss Place on Saturday, July 15, 2023.
How can you summarize a life fully lived for almost 95 years, a life force full of vigor and energy, a life of service sprinkled with some sass, feistiness, dignity, and tenacious love for family, friends, and her Lord? You name her Mona Gayle.
Mom was a child during the Great Depression and a teen during WWII both of which fostered in her an impassioned desire to raise her boys in a warm, inviting home where family would be cherished. She loved, over the years, opening her home to family, friends, and guests who enjoyed her gift for cooking, baking, never-ending cups of coffee, and ample supplies of guidance, opinion, and a raised eyebrow if you needed it or not. When asked just over a week ago what she wanted her grandchildren to remember she said, “Be good. Obey your Bible. Pray every day.” Sage advice was learned from the hard lessons of life.
She is survived by her son Dr. Dennis (Melody) Turner of Needmore; a forever daughter-in-law Susie (Ray) Kern of Bedford; cherished grandchildren: Monica (Hal) Kirkwood of Oxford, England; Erich (Anne) Turner of Charlottesville, VA; Austin Malone of Needmore; Brady Kirkman Turner and fiance Bridget of Indianapolis, IN. She took such delight in her great-grandchildren Elle and Finn Malone and Garrett and Kenzie Kirkwood. She greatly enjoyed being Aunt Mona to many precious nieces and nephews.
Mom is now reunited with Frank, her husband of 69 years, and her dear son Mark L. Turner as well as her Dad and Mom, Cornie and Tressie Kirkman. She also joins her siblings Jack, Barbara, Mary, and Jim.
Mona Gayle attended Ellettsville and Needmore High Schools and worked various jobs but loved being a Kindergarten Aide at NLCS for many years. Her foremost love, though, was being a homemaker for her family. She and Dad taught Sunday School and worked with Youth Groups helping many to love life and Jesus a bit more every day. As a little girl, she loved going to church and did so all of her life. She blessed us more than we can express with her strength, courage, searing sensitivity, and steadfastness.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 22nd in the Elmwood Chapel of Day & Carter Mortuary with Rev. Gary Thomas officiating. Burial will follow in the Hilltop Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the hour of service at the Day & Carter Mortuary.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Mark L. Turner Memorial Scholarship through the Bedford North Lawrence Scholarship Foundation at www.BNLscholarshipfoundation.com.
Family and friends may express condolences at www.daycarter.com.
