Samantha Turner

Samantha Gail Turner

Samantha Gail Turner, aged only 28, of Acton passed away on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 at Emerson Hospital following a two-year battle with sarcoma. She was the loving daughter of three devoted parents: her mother, Deborah (Stone) Turner of Chelmsford, and her father Steve Turner, and stepmother BJ Scott-Turner, both of Littleton.

She is also survived by her brother, Grahame Turner of Boston, her grandmother, Irene Turner of England, her grandfather, Benjamin Stone of Chelmsford, her "adopted brother," Phillip Hickman, her "adopted mother," Joan Soriz, as well as aunts, uncles and cousins across the United Kingdom, and her countless good friends whom she considered to be family.

Born in Tokyo, Japan on July 6, 1986, she moved to the United States in 1987 to settle in Acton with her family. She graduated from Acton-Boxborough Regional High School in 2004 and matriculated into Mt. Ida College in Newton, MA. She graduated Cum Laude in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Equine Management.

Sam had an enduring passion for horses from childhood. She worked in her dream career as a horse-riding instructor, and stable and office manager at Sweet Meadow Farm in Sherborn, from which was formed yet another of her many families. Sam centered her life around the people and the horses she loved. She read voraciously, cooked wonderfully, frequented many drive-in theaters and loved the snow.

She will always be remembered for her warm and welcoming presence, her generosity of spirit, her mischievous sense of humor, and the ever changing color of her hair.

Samantha will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Family and friends gathered to say farewell at a viewing on Monday, Nov. 24 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Concord Funeral Home, 74 Belknap St., Concord. Her Celebration of Life service was held on Tuesday, at 2:00 p.m. in Grace Chapel, 59 Worthen Road, Lexington. In tribute to Sam's favorite color, family and friends will be dressed in blue.

The family also invites you to share any of your own "Samantha-isms" stories, or photos you may have, to help in the building of memorial book. Please send your stories and photos to: Samanthaisms86@gmail.com. Please include your name, where you know Sam from, and the approximate date and location with your submission.

The family asks that donations be made in Samantha's memory to support the:
Sarcoma and Bone Cancers Fund at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
P.O. Box 849168
Boston, MA 02215
www.dana-farber.org/gift
or
Mt. Ida College for a scholarship fund in the memory of Samantha Turner
Office of Development
Mount Ida College
777 Dedham Street
Newton, MA 02459.
www.mountida.edu