Obituary

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Laura Ann Jones Turner, 53, of South Charleston, West Virginia. Laura peacefully passed at home on October 29, 2024, after a short battle with cancer. She was born on June 6, 1971, in Ankeny, Iowa, in the middle of a tornado, to Willard S. “Bill” Jones and Diana Darlington Jones.

She was preceded in death by her father and her grandparents, Joseph and Mary Ault Darlington, and B. T. and Mary E. Jones.

Laura graduated from South Charleston High School in 1989, where she proudly cheered on the Black Eagles. She graduated with honors from Marshall University in 1991 with a degree in Paralegal Studies. Recently, she completed her Certified Nursing Assistant certification of which she was quite proud.

After graduation, Laura worked in Charleston for several litigation law firms where she thrived with the love and skill she possessed for her career. She continued working as a paralegal in Florida, where she and Matt lived for several years. While there, she made many lifelong friends. Laura was a kind, gentle, loving person and the center of her world was her family and the Lord.

Left behind to cherish her memory are her mother; her husband, Robert Matthew “Matt” Turner; her children and their spouses, Nicholas Dunn Staples, Joseph Darlington Staples (Hannah), Benjamin David Staples (Abbie), and Emily Grace Hilton (Ashton); stepchildren, Alyssa Bailey Turner and Ryan Matthew Turner; grandchildren, Mallory Rose Staples, and step grandchildren, Reid Maverick Turner, Mia Grace Wheeler and Ella Ross Wheeler. Laura is also survived by her brother, Willard S. “Casey” Jones (Amy); her sister, Jennfier L. Jones (Tom), and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, and friends.

Just as she came into this life during a tornado, she lived her life in a whirlwind. Not only did she have a career as a paralegal, she had so many other talents and skills that she was always doing, working and going. She sewed her children’s Halloween costumes, designed sweatshirts, cross stitch Samplers, made Christmas ornaments, refinished furniture, re-decorated her home, built a “she-shed” for her Mom, gardened vegetables and flowers, and so much more. She loved camping, Watoga State Park, The Greenbrier River and finding peace while walking in the woods. She was a beautiful and thoughtful writer. Her stories and poems are treasured gifts.

Laura was a devoted Christian. She was a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church of South Charleston. This is where she was baptized, attended, was married, raised her children, and, in times of turmoil, found peace and solace in the sanctuary. She was an active member of her youth group. She was a member of the Mary Jane VanCamp Circle.

As Laura would always say, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Celebration of life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, November 15, 2024, at the First United Methodist Church of South Charleston, 905 Glendale Avenue, with Reverend Paula Napier and Reverend David Biondi officiating.

Visitation with family and friends will be held one hour prior to the service.

You may visit Laura’s tribute page at www.barlowbonsall.com to share memories or condolences for the family.

Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.