Obituary of Carolyn Ann (Ingraham) Turney

Carolyn Ann (Ingraham) Turney took her final curtain call on Friday, October 18, 2024.

Carolyn was born in Fredericton on December 24, 1941, adopted privately by Eber and Marjorie Ingraham, and moved to Woodstock, where she was raised until moving to Fredericton in 1978.

Carolyn was active throughout her school years, a talent in piano, under the guidance of Suzanne True, involved in theatre, and as co-captain of her HS basketball team, JA and GA with St. Luke’s Anglican Church, CGIT at the Baptist Church, The Ground Observer Corps, with Hazen Craig, as well as being addicted to movies.  Sometimes she would be the only kid in the cinema to see a Doris Day movie she’d already seen twice.

She was a lifelong learner, taking courses and expanding her areas of interest.  Always interested in psychology, she enrolled at UNB and eventually completed her CHOICE THEORY CERTIFICATION in 2008, receiving her certificate from William Glasser, the course’s founder, in a ceremony in Moncton.  She continued in later years, offering support to friends through her connection with Christ Church Cathedral.

Carolyn’s husband Bill, whom she married on December 28, 1959, was Mr. Music in Woodstock, in charge of music in the high school and both junior schools.  Carolyn also taught for two years and accompanied many of Bill’s choirs; and together they entertained as a couple at teacher’s banquets.

In 1968, Bill left the Woodstock schools to take a fascinating and challenging position as associate professor of Music at Ricker College in Houlton, Maine, just 12 miles but a lifetime away.  In 1969, at the height of the Vietnam War, it was a whole new world, one in which the Turney’s took great interest.  The school was full to swelling with students avoiding the draft, but the variety of cultures in that sleepy little town gave it a cosmopolitan feel which lasted through its lifetime.  Although it has been in existence since the mid 1800’s, the removal of the draft by Jimmy Carter spelled its death knell.  The school struggled without the town’s support, it fell by the wayside.  There are still reunions every five years, well-attended, and testimony to the impact it had on all who were fortunate to study there.

Carolyn and Bill had four remarkable children:  Virginia (Dan Martin) of Victoria, BC; Hazel (Stephen Watson), Harvey; Stephanie (Dan McCarty), Fredericton; and Gordon Brian of Fredericton.  Hazel joined our little troup when she was old enough to go to court and tell the judge where she wanted to be placed; and we were always grateful that she chose us.  Grandchildren have followed, of course:  Bill, now 37; Alyssa, 35, and Brendan, 33.  Carolyn was predeceased by both of Hazel’s children, Christopher and Michael.  There are also three great-grandchildren: Connor, in Victoria, Age 9; Logan in Ontario, 14, and Kaitlyn, in NS, soon to be 9.

As a faculty wife at Ricker College, Carolyn was afforded the opportunity to take courses, free of charge, so she embarked on her speech/theatre degree, even threw in a year of Arabic for good measure!  The high point of the performance part of her degree was playing Martha in WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?, a play which won her great acclaim and which the company toured all through the state of Maine.  It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, one which she never forgot.  She credits Gordon Cantiello for his masterful directing, and his predecessor, Wayne Westland, for seeing her possibilities as an actress and for working around her obligations as a wife and mother to help make this a happen.

After graduation from Ricker in 1973, Walter Learning offered her the job as THE WOMAN in DEATH OF A SALEMAN, a production which not only toured the Maritimes, but had a National exchange with the Bastion Theatre Company in Victoria, BC, where the cast performed at the McPherson Playhouse.  A magical time, and a time when Carolyn was able to receive her membership in the professional theatre union, Canadian Actors’ Equity.

In 1978, Bill accepted a position at CNIB, and the family moved to Fredericton.  In addition to his new job, Bill became music critic for The Daily Gleaner, and Carolyn was engaged to be theatre critic, a job at which she thrived for the next eight years when the couple was then called to be part of CNIB in Winnipeg.  A wonderful community with a rich arts scene, of which the couple took full advantage.

After fulfilling their two-year commitment there, where both took part in extracurricular activities, and Carolyn worked for two challenging companies, they returned “home”, where both worked for the Atlantic Advocate, and Carolyn took a job setting up Adult Education programs for the New Brunswick Association of Continuing Education.  It was also at that time the couple set up their own communications company, WETCAT Enterprises, specializing in providing brochures for fledgling companies and helping them find their wings.

When Walter Learning came BACK TO THE FUTURE in 1995, he enlisted Carolyn as Company Manager, a position she adored, meeting the needs of cast members, running box office and front of house, booking outlets and accommodation…whatever needed doing.  She never missed a performance, so committed was she to the work of the company.  Following that gig in 1997, she worked as production assistant on some major movies being filmed here.  She was also a background performer in THIS MATTER OF MARRIAGE, and had speaking roles in THE SUE RODRIGUEZ STORY with Wendy Crewson, and IN HER DEFENCE, with Marlee Matlin.  These performances made her eligible for her ACTRA status, which she enjoyed and never took for granted.

One passion of Carolyn’s was voice-over-work.  She narrated a film titled PIONEER WOMEN OF NEW BRUNSWICK, which received excellent reviews, and was also the Anglophone voice of the N-B Grown program, which aired on CBC Radio in the early 90’s.  Sadly she because unable to continue this passion due to a tracheal resection in 2002, which compromised her vocal cords.

In later years, she and Bill took on more projects together.  Together with accompanist Don Stevenson, one huge undertaking was the rewriting and energizing the GOLDEN CLUB SONG BOOK.  It was an 18-month effort, with lots of research, and they all thoroughly enjoyed it.  Bill loved directing that little group; it was the perfect fit for all their talents.

In all, this was life well-lived, yet rife with all the trials we all face if we have families.  We all do the best we can, and hope it’s enough.  Please give yourself permission to say, “This is what I have done; it’s my life.  I did my best.”

A visitation will be held in the J.A. McAdam Memorial Chapel on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 from 12:00 to 1:00 pm. A memorial service will follow immediately at 1:00 pm, with Dean Geoffrey Hall officiating. For those unable to attend the service, a livestream will be available at the following link: https://vimeo.com/event/4668588