Obituary of Patricia Mae Turner (Beck)

Patricia Mae Turner, affectionately known as Gaga, died peacefully Saturday, December 30, 2023 at the age of 92 at her home in Monument, Colorado surrounded by loving family.

Patricia Mae Beck was born in Demorest, Georgia, and was the sixth of eight children of Mary Pearl (Ramey) and Duboy Beck.  Pat grew up in a loving family where she was so proud of her two older extremely athletic brothers, three very sweet older sisters, and was like a little mother to her two younger sisters.  Family was everything to the Becks as they navigated many of life’s trials including the Great Depression, losing the family farm in Georgia, moving to the promise land of Southern California, and enduring sending two brothers off to war.

Pat went to Franklin High School in Los Angeles where she met the love of her life, Royce Burton Turner, who was a tall, handsome track star.  They married two years later in May 1951 and spent the first two years in Idaho as Royce was in the US Air Force.  They moved back to Los Angeles in 1953.  Together they raised a son, Robert Royce, and daughters Barbara Joyce (Hughes) and Debra Lynn (Kailiwai).  Royce and Pat also adopted Brian Hanlon, who was the son of Pat’s youngest sister, Janie, when Brian’s parents died.  Pat welcomed numerous young friends and family when they needed a loving home.  The Turner family lived an adventurous and exciting life as they were always doing fun outdoor activities like waterskiing, camping, flying gyrocopters, hunting, and fishing.  

Pat worked with the Los Angeles City Unified School District where she advanced to the position of Manager in Food Service.  Royce was proud to be a Captain on the Los Angeles City Fire Department until his death in December of 1988, at the age of 57.  

Pat moved to Westlake Village, California in 1990 and then eventually moved to Colorado to be close to family.  She met and married Holmes Hartley, a retired US Air Force pilot.  Pat had many happy years with Holmes and his loving family until Holmes’s death in 2009.  Pat then moved to “Gaga’s Cottage” in Monument, Colorado to be closer to her beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Pat was endearingly named “Gaga” by her oldest grandson forty years ago, and most neighbors and friends knew her by that name. 

Gaga was an avid gardener and loved spending time outdoors.  She would often be seen planting flowers, pushing a wheel barrel, carrying firewood, raking pine needles, shoveling snow, and using a pickaxe to break up ice on her driveway.  Those who knew her would often see her 4’9” frame pushing a huge shopping cart at Costco, her favorite place to shop where she would always buy sweets and Costco pizza.  

Her favorite holidays were Christmas and the 4th of July where she and her brother, Uncle Sam, would preside over Monument’s annual Independence Day parade as Uncle Sam and Betsy Ross on award winning floats.   

Gaga was also a champion water-skier in her 20’s and a PTA Mother of the Year, but her most cherished role was being a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.  Her family members knew she loved them unconditionally and was the most beloved little old lady in the world.  All who knew her loved her!  Her greatest legacy is the way she taught her family that the greatest gift in life is the love of family. 

Gaga is survived by her four children, Bob (& Cheri), Barbara (& Tom), Debbie (& George) and Brian (& Olivia); grandchildren, Ryan, Kelsey, Katelyn, Kelly, Kristen, Bobby, Samantha, McKenzie, Darlene, Beck, and GK; and seventeen great-grandchildren, Knox, Audrielle, Kai, Kael, Kanen, Evelyn, Tristan, Vivien, Buck, Eli, Annie, Andrew, Owen, Brian, Riley, Callum, and Emery.  

She is predeceased by two grandchildren Justin and Kimberly, as well as her parents and seven siblings.

A Celebration of Life will be held January 19, 2024 at 2:00PM, at the Church at Woodmoor, 18125 Furrow Road, Monument, Colorado 80132.

There will be a second Memorial Service and Burial January 26, 2024 at 11:00AM, at Glen Haven & Sholom Memorial Park, 13017 North Lopez Canyon Road, Sylmar, California 91342 followed by a Joyful Celebration of Life with family and friends at the Turner residence.  

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The Widows and Orphans fund of the Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association or The Church at Woodmoor.