Marian Turrell, 90

Marian “Marianne” Thresia Turrell, age 90, of Hayden, Idaho, died March 18, 2014.

Marianne was born November 24, 1923, in Westby, Mont., to parents Jacob “Jack” Weiler and Florence Mittlestader Weiler. The family later added younger brother, Milo “Bud” Weiler. Marian's father, a WWI veteran, worked at farming, mining and many other jobs to support the family. He eventually got a job on the Fork Peck Dam on the Missouri River during the depression. The family lived in the construction town of Wheeler, Mont. After his work ended at Fort Peck, the family moved to Grand Coulee, Wash., where her father worked on the Grand Coulee Dam and Marian attended junior and senior high school ,graduating in 1942.

After Marian finished school, the family moved to Deer Park, Wash., where her parents farmed and her father found carpentry and concrete work in the greater Spokane area. It was in Deer Park that Marian met the love of her life, Herbert ‘Herby’ Turrell. They married on May 29, 1943, after Herby joined the Navy.

After basic training at Farragut, Marian followed her husband to his various training stations including New London, Conn., where Herby finished his submarine training. He served in the Pacific on the SS220 “The Barb” for the duration of the war. The Barb was known for sinking the most enemy tonnage during the war. The ship and each man were awarded the Unit Citation Congressional Medal of Honor I-Star.

While Herby was serving in the Pacific, Marian worked at the Potlatch Lumber Mill in Deer Park until she found a better job at Geiger Airfield in Airway Heights, salvaging and repairing military aircraft. Her husband returned home after the war, and they started their lives together with Herby finding work around Deer Park and Spokane, and Marian staying at home. Their first born was son, Terry, who they packed along to the Hudlow camp while Herby drove logging trucks for the Ohio Match Company in the Coeur d’Alene National Forest. They returned to Deer Park, and the next two sons, Tim and Tom, were born. In the early 60’s they moved back to Coeur d’Alene while Herby built his trucking business with the Co-op Supply, Inc., driving tanker trucks. Shortly after this move, their last son, Tracy, was born. Marianne and Herby spent many hours following their sons around the northwest while they played sports - especially baseball.

Marian was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert; mother, Florence; father, Jacob; and brother, Milo. She is survived by her sons and their spouses: Terry and Loni (McIntosh) Turrell, of Seattle, Wash., Tim and Peggy Turrell, of Hayden, Idaho, Tom and Rackel (Munkondia) Turrell, of Zambia, Africa, and Tracy and Lynda (Barrowcliff) Turrell, of Hayden, Idaho; sisters-in-law, Lois Turrell, of Lacey, Wash., and Francis Turrell, of Milton, Wash.; nine grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend special thanks and love to Dr. Cher Jacobsen, the staff at By the Lake Assisted Living, and nurses TammyLynn and MaryJean, Dr. Snyder, Pastor Dave and Whitney with Arbor Crest Hospice. A viewing will be held from 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, March 26, at Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d’Alene Chapel. A family graveside service will be held Thursday in Deer Park. You may visit Marian’s online memorial and sign her guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.