Reunited Again
Our dear, beloved mother, Kathleen Turner Denning returned to her Heavenly Father on September 11, 2014. Mom was born on May 2, 1928 in Independence, MO and raised with her brother, James K. (Jay) Turner, Jr. by their loving parents, James Keep Turner and Isabella Kathleen Ireland, who all preceded her in death.
Mom passed away due to natural causes. She will be missed until we, as a family, are reunited in the eternities.
Mom was a beauty queen - beautiful, both inside and out. When she came to Utah in 1946 to attend the University of Utah, she met a tall, dark and handsome man, William V. Denning, Jr. with whom she quickly and forever fell in love. They were married on May 24, 1947 and sealed in the Salt Lake Temple in 1950. Mom and Dad were two parts of a whole and were never complete without each other. Dad passed away on August 30, 2002 and has been waiting for his "Snooks" to join him. Though we will miss her love, example and beautiful crystal blue eyes, we are thrilled they are finally reunited.
Mom and Dad shared their heart and soul with their 6 children throughout their lives and sacrificed much to raise them as Dad moved from town to town for JC Penney, Mode O Day, and Rainbow Sales. They lived in Bremerton, WA, Salt Lake City, American Fork, Payson and Sandy UT. They often took their family on campouts, fishing and boating trips, steak frys up the canyon, usually including friends and family in their adventures. They loved to travel locally and abroad!
Mom was a wonderful cook and loved to entertain. She was full of boundless energy and loved to stay up all night reading. Her priority was family and set a lifetime example of acceptance and forgiveness. She had the ability to make you feel you were the most important person, after Dad, in her life.
Mom was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout her life. She had so many talents, a beautiful singing voice, and could play anything on the piano - she served as Primary and Relief Society pianists for over 60 years. Her children were raised gathering around the piano blending their voices in song and laughter. She instilled a love of music in her children and grandchildren. She and Dad taught us to love camping, snow skiing, water skiing, Lake Powell, being together as a family, the beauties of nature and encouraged us to develop and use the talents with which we were blessed.
Mom helped support our family doing various occupations. While in Payson, UT (during the deer hunting season) she was a wrapper for Blanchard Dixon's Meat. While living in Holladay and Sandy Mom did data entry for the Newspaper Agency (NAC), was a checkout clerk at Dan's Foods, did bookkeeping at the Salt Lake Clinic, Salt Lake Orthopedic and Dr. Robert Lamb for over 30 years, and sales/customer service at Dillard's, Beehive Clothing and Costco. She worked at Costco until she was 80 years old. She loved seeing friends and acquaintances, catching up on what were going on their lives and needed a way to burn her endless energy.
Mom is survived and lovingly remembered by her children Kathi (David) Leaf, Lynne (Larry) Whittaker, Karen (Lee) Russell (Halberstadt, Germany), Debby (Kirt) Josephson, Keith (Pat) Denning and, Bruce (Lynnette (deceased)) Denning. She loved being around people and sharing stories about her 6 children and spouses, 32 grandchildren and 89 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her beloved Bill, her parents, brother, Jay, her daughter-in-law, Lynnette Denning and two grandsons, TJ Denning and Scot Perkins.
A viewing will be held from 6:00 pm ‚ 8:00 pm on Monday, September 15th at the Larkin Sunset Gardens Mortuary 1950 E. Dimple Dell Road (10600 S.), Sandy, Utah.
Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, September 16th at 11:00 a.m. at Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery in Sandy.
A special thank you to the staff and residents of Legacy House - Taylorsville for their tender care of mom over the past 15 months.
As a memorial to our beloved Mother, please gather your family close, hug them, tell them how much you love them, and sing your favorite primary song together. Send flowers to your loved ones because to Mom, Family is Everything!
