Ione Turner
December 3, 1960 – May 18, 2023
Much loved daughter, sister, auntie and loving friend to many, in the area and around the world.
Born and raised on Beacon Hill in Seattle, a graduate of Queen Anne High School, the University of Washington and Bastyr University.
World traveler, deep thinker, and active member of the tango community.
Donations in her honor can be made to Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center and Cancer Pathways in Seattle.
Dearest sister,
I miss you so much. My heart breaks every day.
Please watch over all of us, and take your well-earned rest.
On behalf of the Department of Enterprise Services Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Team, where Ione provided us with untiring service, expertise and support, we would like to send out heartfelt condolences to the family in your time of loss and healing and we hope that all of your memories are fond one. We also thank you for sharing Ione’s great spirit, insight and personality with us. She will be greatly missed.
Respectfully
Dr. Shawn G. Willis on behalf of the DES-DEI Team, Dr. Adrian Thompson-Chief Equity Officer and Ms. Tara Smith-Director, Department of Enterprise Services.
On behalf of the Willis family, I would like to thank you for allowing Ione to be shared with us. Shellie and I both had the opportunity to work with and converse with Ione on topics outside of work. Her since of humor, calmness and love for all things will be truly missed. We pray that you know Ione lived a full and spectacular life and had God and Family first in her daily walk.
Respectfully,
The Willis Family
Dear Ione,
Thank you for your expert cat mama advice and support when I needed it most. And thank you for your kindness and gentleness. I will miss you for sure. Godspeed, and may God bless your family and loved ones.
Rina
Kind, compassionate and loving. I remember Ione as all these and more.
Rest in peace Ione.
Kayleen
Ione, you brought so much joy and love to our work at ESD (Employment Security Department) and you helped me remember the importance of fun and lightness, while putting people first. I miss your smile and authenticity. Thank you for showing me that it is possible to be fierce, wise and loving all at the same time. We are better because of the time you spent with us. I’m sending love to your family and friends…
I had the pleasure of working with Ione when I was at DES. She was always kind and very committed to her work with DEI training. I was sad to lean about her passing, but was relieved to hear that she was surrounded by family, before she passed. Will miss her a lot.
Sending prayers of condolence to Ione’s family. We thank you for sharing her with us here at the State of Washington. I had the pleasure of working with Ione at ESD. She and I shared a great love and passion for the color purple, thus we called ourselves the Purple Sisters. We worked in different programs, but whenever we had the opportunity to work on special projects/teams, I was always excited to work beside Ione. She embodied love and compassion for others and I have to admit I was sad when she decided to join DES, but we both knew that God had greater plans for her to impact the lives of thousands of State Employees, and when DES rolled out the DEI training, Ione was one of my trainers, so again, I had the pleasure of being in her presence. She loved life and it showed in everything that she did — she went heart first and full speed ahead. She touched many lives while on this earthly journey, and although I will miss her physical presence, I rejoice in knowing that she is dancing in Heaven! Rest on my Purple Sister! I love you and I am grateful that I had the pleasure of meeting you and working with you. Continued prayers and blessings for her family, friends, and work family across the State of Washington.
My heartfelt condolences to all who knew and loved Ione. I count myself so fortunate to have crossed paths with her.
Ione was one of my first team members as a DEI Development Manager at DES. From the second I interviewed Ione for the team I knew I had to have her on my team. Ione brought a warmth and calmness to the team that was beyond comparison. She and I would speak, and I would tell her that she was the heart and soul of the team. She never passed up the opportunity to talk about her dancing and her face would light up explaining her latest class or event. She will be missed and my condolences to her loved ones.
Ione, you are a blessing and gift in so many ways. Thank you for your hard work, service and love to the Black community. You are Black Girl Magic!
My Dear Friend Ione,
My new friend. I didn’t have the pleasure of knowing you long enough to know your foibles, only long enough to know your healing heart. Perhaps that is long enough. We never met in person, only talked on the phone. I appreciate so much how you shared yourself with me and how you listened as well. I felt how you wanted to live, to dance, to maybe try to date if you could only figure out to navigate that terrain with a fatal diagnosis, to simply feel better day to day. I am so grateful that you shared yourself with me, that in all the ways you could in the short time we knew each other, you said Yes to what life had to offer.
The afternoon I learned of your passing from your sister, I was camping. It was very hot and your news really knocked me off my dot, I felt so sad and shaken. You had told me you were dying, but I guess the finality of this news always takes a little wind out of our sails. As evening approached, a storm did too. We had no rain, but we had wind and thunder and lighting and, I like to think this was your doing, a full rainbow, end to end. Thank you for what I will take as a sign of your glee in being free. Thank you for your friendship. I will always remember you laughing with me at our struggles.
Love forever and beyond, your friend Leslie
Dear Ione (Kim), Dana and I were discussing our cherish memories of you when we met as teenagers. As I read the messages, it is no surprise that you are dearly loved and had a profound impact on the lives of people you touched! It is the Ione I know and remember. You will be missed! Rest in peace! My condolences to your family. Always, Tracy Brown
The light that was Ione still shines.
May we feel her presence often.
Warmest regards to her loving family and friends.