Mary "Tinky" (Tinckam) Turner

Beloved matriarch, Mary "Tinky" Turner of Portsmouth, NH passed away peacefully on January 9, 2022 at the age of 91 at her home.

She was born in Wichita, Kansas on December 1, 1930 to Charles and Winifred Tinckam from London, England. She attended Cony High School in Augusta, Maine and received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics from the University of New Hampshire. Following her graduation in 1969, she enjoyed teaching at Exeter Junior High School for 15 years. Mary retired in 1984 and in 1987 started working for Portsmouth Area Home Care Agency.

Mary was an active and faithful member of St. John's Church in Portsmouth, NH for over 60 years. She was involved with many of their ministries including choir, crafting prayer shawls, meals for Cross Roads House, vestry, church fair, and the new minister search committee, which brought Tim Rich to the St. John's community. She was proud to be St. John's first Lay Eucharistic Minister.

Beyond her work, church and family activities, Mary stayed busy with many hobbies, interests, and volunteering. She was an avid reader and puzzler. She was a skilled gardener and had the most beautiful flowers on the block. She generously shared bouquets and cuttings and in the summer her home had fresh arrangements in every room. When her hands weren't in the dirt, they were busy sewing, stitching, and knitting. She made quilts for all her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She was well known for her "I Spy" quilts which she made for newborns of friends and friends of friends. She also sewed dozens of dresses for Appalachian children through Tender Loving Care Ministries.

An adventurer at heart, Mary's escapades were planned and sometimes unplanned. Whether the destination was familiar or unknown, she paid no mind. On a whim she'd be off - undaunted, determined and filled with glee. She challenged herself and participated in an Outward Bound ocean voyage. With friends and daughters she traveled near and far. She visited Australia, Canada, England, Iceland, Kenya, Tanzania, New Zealand, Thailand, California, Florida, and many other states. She included volunteering in her travels, spending a month at an orphanage in Romania and a week in New Orleans after Katrina. Locally she was a volunteer at Webster at Rye in Rye, NH.

She had a love for cooking and always made extra to share with family, friends and neighbors. Her specialties included baked beans, buttercrunch, brownies, cookies, Danish pastries, fudge and jams. Her recipes have been shared with loved ones and will continue to be enjoyed.

Mary is survived by her five daughters, Lynda and Gary Farrow, Danville, VT, Leslie Joy Turner, Anderson, SC, Lisa and Bruce Renna, Danbury, CT, Penny and Mark Gallo, Barefoot Bay, FL, and Michele and Mark Sandler, Bow, NH; nine grandchildren, Matthew and Kimberly Farrow, Hudson, MA, Kevin Farrow, Vacaville, CA, Andrew and Kelly Renna, Easton, CT, Emily and Mike Beers, Danbury, CT, Heather Strider, Somersworth, NH, Kelsey Santa Barbara and Ryan Arsenault, Portsmouth, NH, Kori Santa Barbara, Portsmouth, NH, Riley and Christy Sandler, Woodstock, VT, Griffin Sandler, Manchester, NH; and ten great grandchildren, Yannah, Jackson, Addison, Mason, Ryan, Harper, Jake, Katelyn, Aria and Callie. In addition to her parents, Mary is predeceased by her sister, Shirley MacCormack.

A celebration of life will be held on Friday, June 3, 2022, in St. John's Episcopal Church 101 Chapel St, Portsmouth, NH 03801.(Time to be determined) In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Young Organist Collaborative at St. John's Episcopal Church, 101 Chapel Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801.