Our Sorority Sister Katherine's Obituary

Katherine Meyer Turcotte's Obituary

Katherine Meyer Turcotte died Thursday, September 13, 2012, at River Region Medical Center.  She was 71.

Mrs. Turcotte was the daughter of the later Edward C. Meyer and Dorothy Jones Meyer and the widow of Roy V. Turcotte, Jr., who died on June 18, 2012.  She was a graduate of St. Francis Xavier Academy in the class of 1959.  She was a Chemical Dependency Counselor, Level II at Marian Hill Chemical Dependency Center in Vicksburg for the past 18 years and served as counselor at Pine Grove Chemical Dependency Unit in Hattiesburg and St. Dominic Chemical Dependency Unit in Jackson.

In 1994 she was awarded the Hilda Dehan Award, and in 2000, Mrs. Turcotte was awarded the MAADAC Counselor of the Year Award.  She served as SE Regional Vice President of the National Association for Addiction Professionals.  Mrs. Turcotte was an Internationally Certified Clinic Supervisor.  Since 2007, an award named after her has been given to the Addiction Professional of the Year.  Mrs. Turcotte was founder of the Mississippi Association of Addiction Professionals and had served as past president of the organization.  She was a member of the Pi Alpha Kappa Omega Chapter and the Vicksburg Lions Club.  The Turcotte was a communicant of St. Michael Catholic Church.

During her high school years she was known throughout the state as a premier athlete, highlighted by her outstanding basketball talents for the St. Francis Xavier Blue Streaks and was known as Katherine "Speedy" Meyer.

She is survived by four sons, Jeff Turcotte, and wife Doris, of Albuquerque, N.M., Greg Turcotte and wife, Sherrie, of Seminary, Tim Turcotte and wife, Lisa, of Lexington, KY, Steve Turcotte and wife Candy, of Vicksburg; a brother William Charles "Buddy" Meyer of Savannah, GA; 15 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Rosalie Garner and husband, Jack, of Oxford, and a brother-in-law, Randy Turcotte of Vicksburg.

A funeral mass will be at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Michael Catholic Church with the Rev. P. J. Curley as celebrant.  Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery under the direction of Riles Funeral Home.  Visitation will be Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. with prayer service at 6 p.m.  Visitation will be from 1 a.m. until service time Monday at the church.

Memorials may be made to Vicksburg Catholic School, 1900 Grove Street,  Vicksburg, MS,  39183 or to National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency, Central MS Chapter care of Jenny Crutchfield, 875 North Park Drive, Suite 600, Ridgeland, MS.  39157

Pallbearers will be Randy Turcotte, Tyler Turcotte, Tessa Turcotte, LaShay Meyer, Darrell Jones, Michael Jones, J.B. Edwards and Dr. Robert Lee Giffin, Jr.

Honorary Pallbearers will be members of the Vicksburg Lions Club and members of the Pi Alpha Kappa Omega Chapter.