Marian Turner

On February 3, 2021, Marian Louise Hawkins Turner, 88, died peacefully in her sleep surrounded by family at Barrett Hospital in Dillon, Montana. She was born to Peter and Barbara Kat in Oakland, CA, on November 8th, 1932, and raised in Yosemite National Park. Marian graduated from UC Berkeley with a major in political science, then married her first husband, Skip Hawkins. They made a home together in Santa Cruz, CA, where they raised four children, sharing with them a love of nature, art, reading, political activism, and music. Marian was active in the anti-nuclear and anti-war movements, performed in community theater, painted portraits of people and their pets, and designed graphics and posters for local organizations. Marian helped found the Santa Cruz Community School, and opened her heart and home to many young people in addition to her own. In 1969, Marian met Richard Turner, her dedicated and loving husband until his death in June, 2020. Together they moved to Reno, NV, where they raised their only child, Kate Turner. They moved to China during the mid-1980s, where Richard and Marian taught English to future teachers. After returning from China, Richard and Marian moved to Dillon, MT, where they spent the next 33 years. Marian enjoyed gardening, birding, reading, cooking, and painting (winning multiple awards for her landscapes). She loved going to the opera with Richard every year. She was politically active and supported many community organizations in Dillon. She was awed by the big skies and sweeping landscapes of southwestern Montana. The caring spirit of her Dillon neighbors touched Marian, especially toward the end of her life when so many people helped in a myriad of ways. Upon receiving some benefit from a member of this close community, Marian would often say with gratitude, “only in Dillon!” Marian will be missed by many. She is survived by her little sister (Jeanne Schabel), five children (Jennifer Hawkins, Laura Kat Hawkins, Julianne Pepetone, Chris Hawkins, and Kate Turner), 17 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. She never forgot a birthday.