Lillian “Helen” Turvey, 90, of Taylorville, passed from our arms into the arms of Jesus in Heaven on Thursday, December 4, 2025. She was born on April 25, 1935, in Liberty, Kentucky, the daughter of James C. and Edith (Witt) Taylor. She married the love of her life, Everett E. Turvey, on June 21, 1953, in the Bethel Baptist Church in Sharpsburg. Everett preceded her in death on October 31, 2017. She worked for many years for Liberty Mutual in Taylorville. Helen attended the First Baptist Church and then the Evangelical Free Church. More recently, she read the Bible and listened to CDs from the church of the weekly sermons that were brought to her.
Helen found joy in the beauty of nature created by her Lord. She was a selfless and strong woman who never wanted to be in the limelight, but she was always content to be the one involved behind the scenes helping to solve problems and celebrate successes. She loved planting and arranging flowers. Each year, her home and yard bloomed with color and beauty under her care.
She was a devoted wife and mother who taught life lessons to her family as they observed all the things she sacrificed throughout her life. Her children and grandchildren loved being with her, and she cherished the time spent with them. Helen was a wonderful cook who brought her family together every Sunday evening for decades with her meals for as long as she could. She was the rock for her family.
Helen found a love for hot air balloons after she and Everett attended a hot air balloon festival in Albuquerque. They rode in the balloons and participated as members of a chase crew. They enjoyed traveling and going to Model T events. She and Everett worked hard and built a good life together while they did many DIY home projects. Over the years, they had quite a few unique and classic cars that they enjoyed.
Helen will forever be in our hearts and deeply missed. She was a truly good woman with the biggest heart. All the love and support she was given meant so very much to her.
She is survived by her children: Debbie Krotz (Edward) of Taylorville, Gary Turvey (Mary) of Peoria, Eric Turvey (Vicki) of Taylorville, and E. Tim Turvey (Betsy) of Oakland Township, Michigan; grandchildren: Chay Anthony, Roxanna Anthony, Peyton Turvey (Jason), and Eli Turvey; great grandchildren: Zeb Anthony, Zane Anthony, Zoe Anthony, Zennon McCoy, Jayse Carlile, Abigail Carlile, and Elizabeth Turvey; great-great grandchild: Tyvon Gunning; siblings: Tony Taylor (Deanna) of Morrisonville, Penny Tetzel (Horst) of Springfield, Kay Landgrebe (Gary) of Riverton, and Pamela Brady (Mike) of Caseyville; and many very special and dear nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and sisters Rita Johnson and Charlotte Lebshier Reed.
A funeral service for Helen will take place at 2 p.m. on Thursday, December 11, 2025, at McClure Funeral Home in Taylorville. The visitation will be held from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. and burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Taylorville Food Pantry, 1429 E. Main Cross, Taylorville, IL 62568. McClure Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Taylorville is assisting the family with arrangements.
