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Joan Hecht Turner Sober, 89, died August 14, 2012 in Prescott, AZ. Loved ones were everything to her. She deeply loved and sacrificed for her family. She always thought of others first, being kind and generous even when she often had little for herself. Throughout her life, she bravely faced and overcame adversity through her determination and persistence. Her strength was evident until the very last moments of her life, when she finally surrendered to a more restful offer.
She was born in 1922 in Sturgis, MI, to Edward and Anna (John) Hecht.
In 1942, she was married to Staff Sgt. Guy C Turner, of Sturgis. He died in 1944 in Fairfield, California while serving in the Air Force. In 1947, she was married to Dr. Erwin B Sober.
She was a resident of Sturgis until 1949 (graduating from Sturgis High School in 1940). She loved school – especially the language arts. While in Sturgis, she was employed as a secretary at Royal Easy Chair Company, Freeman Manufacturing Co., and Sturgis Memorial Hospital. In 1949, she moved to Lansing, MI. During her residence there, she was employed for a combined 15 years by Towne Courier Newspapers, and Snelling & Snelling Employment Services. During her last 15 years of employment, she was a housing coordinator for Mason Abbot Residence Halls at Michigan State University. She sincerely loved this job, her supportive co-workers and all those students for whom she was a substitute grandmother. She worked diligently and enthusiastically for all her employers and eagerly learned more with each new employment experience. She retired in 1999 and enjoyed some quiet time at home until relocating to Santa Barbara, CA, in 2003 for a respite at the home of son Guy and his wife Cathy. In 2004, she relocated to Prescott, AZ home to son Greg and his wife Colleen, and lived at Good Samaritan Society Prescott Village senior living apartments. She had many friends at the Village and became an enthusiastic D’Backs and Suns fan, and always cheered for MSU when the Spartans were televised.
A recent fall led to a rapid decline in her health, and she was admitted to the Good Samaritan Society Marley House Hospice to spend her final hours. She gave up her worldly shell with grace, peace, comfort and God’s forgiveness, surrounded by loving and supportive family members and professional Hospice staff. We take comfort that she is now in a better place.
Surviving are her daughter, Dr. Anne L Sober DVM from Florida, five sons – Guy C Turner, Jr (wife Catharine) from California, Gregory B Sober (wife Colleen) from Arizona, Mark E Sober from Wisconsin, Richard B Sober (wife Pamela) and Clinton J Sober from Texas; seven grandchildren, six great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters: Marion LeRoque Barnell, Norma Bauer and Helen Edgington, and her brother, Max Hecht – all of Sturgis.
In accordance with her wishes, cremation has taken place. A Memorial service celebrating her life will be held on September 15, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Sturgis. The Rev. Deb Johnson will officiate. Private burial of the ashes will be at Oak Lawn Cemetery, Sturgis.
The Hackman Family Funeral Home – Rosenberg Chapel, 807 E. Chicago Rd., Sturgis, Michigan 49091, 269-651-3284 is entrusted with the local arrangements.
Memorials may be directed to: Good Samaritan-Prescott Hospice, Compassionate Care Fund, 1065 Ruth St, Prescott, AZ 86301. As she was a devoted fan, It would also please Mom if you took some time to listen to a few (or more) Frank Sinatra songs in her honor.
The obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhome.com where personal messages of support may be left for the family.
