South Yorkshire Times, August 4th, 1951
A Gracious Lady
We greatly regret to record the death (on July 27th) of Emily Margaret, wife of Mr. W. P. Turner, The Beeches, Swinton, chairman of the directors of the “South Yorkshire Times Printing and Publishing Co Ltd., Mexborough.”
Mrs. Turner took a chill last Easter and the illness developed fatally in spite of the most devoted medical and nursing attention. The illness was borne with a gentle patience and unsubdued interest in the needs of others which was the leading characteristic of this Christian lady, the chief of her many virtues. Many and various are the people who will miss and mourn here.
In addition to her part in her husband’s social and business activities, she had a wide circle of friends and acquaintances who loved and esteemed her for her great goodness of heart.
She was graceful and distinguished in manner and appearance, the perfect hostess who looked the part in her charming hospitable home and at the centre of a beautiful home life. But it was her inherent sweetness and sympathy of which her friends became instantly conscious, and for this she will be best and longest remembered.
She was devoted and diligent in attendance of the services and duties of her church, and very generous in support of all social and religious activity, especially the work of hospitals. Indeed she was a faithful, practicing Christian, with a simple and clear-sited outlook on life.
Her philosophy might well be summed up in the well-known verse of Adam Lindsay Gordon, which she always kept by her:
Life is mostly froth and bubble
Two things stand like stone
Kindness in another’s trouble
Courage in your own
Emily Margaret Doel was the youngest daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Henry Doel of Bridlington. She was married 48 years ago to Mr. William Percival Turner, then assistant to his father, the late Mr. Walter Turner, printer, publisher, founder of the “South Yorkshire Times.”
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. W. P. Turner was ideally happy. While we all feel deeply for the bereaved husband and son (Mr. Eric Turner) and devoted sister (Mrs. Ensor) and other members of the family, we realise they are left with happy and fragrant memories of a lovely personality, as well as a deep and grievous sense of loss.
Many Mourners
The funeral at Swinton Parish Church on Tuesday was attended by a large concourse of sympathisers, including industrial, professional and business representatives from throughout South Yorkshire. The choral service was conducted by the Rev. H. W. Quarrell, Vicar of Swinton, assisted by Canon T. G. Rogers, Rector of Tankersley, and former vicar of Swinton. Mr. G Parkinson Eyre was organist and the hymn sung was “Jesu Lover of my Soul”
Canon Rogers, a life-long friend of Mr. and Mrs. Turner said it was not his intention to enumerate the many good qualities in Mrs. Turner’s character and life or to detail the good work she did while alive. Canon Rogers referred specifically to Mrs. Turner’s active association with the work of Mexborough Montagu Hospital. “She gave her support gladly over a number of years for the hospital.” Mrs. Turner’s work for the Scout movement was also referred to by Canon Rogers, who also mentioned that there were many particularly older employees of the “South Yorkshire Times” who would remember with gratitude Mrs. Turner’s interest in their welfare.
Canon Rogers also spoke of Mrs. Turner’s “love and support” for Swinton Parish Church.