Barbara J. MacTurk
Barbara J. MacTurk, 90, Hailesboro, passed away on Sunday, June 18, 2017 at Samaritan Summit Village in Watertown.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, June 23 at 11 a.m. at the Green Funeral Home, Gouverneur with Judy Sibley, lay pastor, officiating and burial in Hailesboro Cemetery. Calling hours were Thursday evening from 5p.m. to 7 p.m.
Barbara was born in Massena on May 19, 1927, the daughter of Marshall D. and Hope G. Lepper and was a resident of Hailesboro since she was 6 months old.
She graduated from Gouverneur High School in 1944.
Barbara married William Thomas MacTurk on October 18, 1946 at the Baptist Church parsonage with Rev. Ward Crawford officiating.
Mr. MacTurk passed away July 30, 1986.
Barb worked in the testing lab office of International Talc and as a food service helper at Fowler School for over 25 years, retiring in 1989.
She was active in the community, having served on the Hailesboro Home Bureau over 40 years, charter member of the Fowler School PTA, lifetime member of the VFW #6338 ladies auxiliary and the hospital auxiliary. Barb was also an esteemed member of the Copenhagen Vol. Fire Department auxiliary, a past member of the Order of the Eastern Star, the Senior Citizens organization, served as an election inspector for 41 years, and was known for clipping coupons in the newspapers for the troops in Germany, Turkey, and Fort Drum.
Barb enjoyed spending time outdoors, working in her garden and flowers, feeding the birds, chipmunks, and gray squirrels. She also liked crossword puzzles and was an avid sports fan, especially the New York Mets.
She is survived by her son David and Cynthia MacTurk of LeRoy, N.Y., her daughter MaryAnne and Gerald Snyder of Copenhagen, N.Y., severalgrandchildren and great grandchildren, a sister Carolyn Fanning of Copenhagen, nieces and nephews, and her extended family of Hailesboro. Barb is predeceased by her husband Bill, her parents, a daughter Marsha Jean Downs, a brother James Lepper, and her faithful cat Bitty-Bit.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Gouverneur Vol. Rescue Squad, PO Box 164, Gouverneur, NY 13642.