Julia Ann Turner

Julia Ann Turner passed away on October 21, 2024, at the Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital in Grass Valley, California, surrounded by her family. She was 88 years old. Born in Cortland, New York, Julia was the oldest of the three daughters of Benton and Bertha Turner. At the age of 14, her family moved to Southern California, joining other relatives who had moved from New York, to the Los Angeles area. Throughout the years, Julia often spoke of how much she missed her way of life in upstate New York, her friends and family, the changing of the seasons, with summers at Song Lake and growing up in the beautiful small town of Cortland.

Julia’s passion in life was music. She began her piano studies in fourth grade while living in New York and continued this focus throughout her education, graduating from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1958, with the Degree of Bachelor of Arts in Music. While attending UCLA, Julia became a member of the Alpha Xi Delta Sorority. She entered graduate school at UCLA, and completed her State of California Special Lifetime Secondary Credential in Music. Julia began her teaching career as a vocal music teacher for the Whittier School District.

Julia loved to dance, sing and play the piano. She was a wonderful cook and known by all for her love of See’s Candy. She taught her children to play the piano and encouraged them to learn other instruments, such as the guitar and violin. In her later years, Julia moved to Northern California, to “Lake of the Pines”, near Auburn. Her interest in wildlife soared on her large property under the redwood trees. Julia became a keen observer of resident deer families and many other animals. She loved family visits and especially enjoyed time with her grandsons, Skyler and Riley, who lived less than an hour away in Nevada City.

Julia is survived by her sisters, Sarah Turner, Long Beach, and Susan Ashlock(Jim), Santa Barbara, her three children, Michael Cotton(Marlene), two grandchildren, Skyler and Riley Cotton, Nevada City, CA., Marianne Dahl(Mark), Pt Hueneme, CA and Stephen Cotton(Abigail), Orinda, CA., and her many nieces and nephews. Julia was predeceased by her husband, Lawrence Cotton, and second husband, Dr. Edmund Gaulden.

A Funeral Mass was held at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Grass Valley, on November 6, 2024, with a private family internment at the Old Auburn Cemetery following. Julia will be dearly missed by all who loved her and remembered by all those who knew her. Julia was a daughter, a sister, a mother, and a grandmother. She cared deeply for all of us. Rest in Peace.