A native Texan, Eloise came to Arizona in 1926 after attending the University of Texas. She graduated from Arizona State Teachers College at Flagstaff in 1927 and taught school in McNary until struck down by Typhoid in 1929. A chance meeting with Santa Fe Railway Chief Clerk Sam Turner in Holbrook that same year changed the direction of her life. Married in 1930, they transferred to Gallup, Ash Fork, and then to the Grand Canyon in 1940 where they became part of the community for seventeen years.

While at the Canyon, in addition to her role as mother and housewife, Eloise served as a substitute teacher at the grade school, taught piano and worked as a secretary for Fred Harvey--where, among other duties, she kept track of the life history of the mules. In her spare time she wrote for the "Santa Fe Magazine" and "Hospitality," the Fred Harvey publication, and occasionally the United Press picked up her stories. Even with all of this, she also found time to write a book of children's stories.

There are many of the residents of the Canyon who remember her as a grand lady--deservedly so. Eloise has been a long time member of the GCPS and will be sorely missed by all. She is survived by her son, Sam and his family in Tucson.

Used by permission of the Grand Canyon Pioneers Society.

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