Watsonville

Albertine Turley of Watsonville, Ca passed away at the age of 88 on May 31st, 2025 surrounded by her family.

Born in Patia, Arkansas on July 20th, 1936, Albertine was the 10th of 11 children born to Kent and Mable Benn. Growing up she had a beautiful voice and loved to sing, especially with her sisters.

At the young age of 16 she married Leman Curtis Lee on June 15th, 1952. They left Arkansas for California, joining the Mormon Church and making their way to Fort Ord where her husband was scheduled to report for boot camp. She eventually settled in Watsonville and on Dec 13th, 1953, she gave birth to her first son Dewayne. She went on to have 4 more children: Dawn, David, Deana, and Donja. After her children were grown, she went back to school, finished her courses and was hired at Watsonville Community Hospital in the PBX department.

There, her coworkers and friends loved and remember her for her staple Arkansas drawl and caring demeanor.

She was a dedicated employee and loved her job and finally retired after 30 years to spend time with her family.

Albertine is survived by her daughters Deana and Dawn and her son, David, as well as her 8grandchildren: Crystal, Stacey, Christy, Nicole, Danielle, Audra, Caitlyn, Heather, and Shawn. She was also blessed to have 8 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Leman Turley, her eldest son and youngest daughter, Dewayne Turley and Donja Martinez, as well as her siblings Fay Mildred Walling, Carlington Randolph Benn, Corrinne Lamma Karapeik, Vada Irene Benn, Clara Mae Pegues, Mary Catherine Grady, Joyce Joan Lee, Carolyn Coleta Patterson, and Ruth Alyce (Boopy) Tipton.

Her family would like to thank her caregivers and Hospice of Santa Cruz.