Janice Lee Turner Brumagen

Born in Hyden, Kentucky to Thelma Dean Clark and Dr. Dillard Davis Turner on November 9, 1937, Janice Lee Turner Brumagen passed peacefully on July 27, 2025, at the home she shared with her sister Vanda DeMarcus at Wesley Village, in Wilmore, Kentucky. Janice was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and teacher and never met a child or animal who wasn’t drawn to her gentle nature.

Growing up in Manchester and London, Kentucky, Janice graduated as the Valedictorian from Laurel County High School at age 16 and began studying biological sciences at the University of Kentucky. Janice followed this interest into the nursing program at Good Samaritan Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, where she served as an instructor immediately upon graduation. While attending the University of Kentucky, Janice met her future husband David in gym class, and after he completed his PhD program, they moved to Morehead, Kentucky where she would eventually join him on the faculty of Morehead State University. Janice continued her education, earning graduate degrees in both education and nursing, but she was most proud of her R.N. degree, following in the footsteps of her mother.

While David taught biology at MSU, Janice educated nursing students in pediatrics for 27 years, influencing hundreds of students with her kind, ethical, and empathetic care for her patients. Her children will always remember the mornings she would rise at 4:00 am to drive to the nearest hospital with a pediatric unit to prepare her students for their clinical education, returning after dark and often grading their care plans late into the night.

Janice was a passionate gardener who relished the arrival of the nursery catalogs each spring and enthusiastically chose far more seeds and bulbs than she could find space for in her perennial beds. She and David also planted many vegetable gardens in their 56 years together, celebrating the first tomato of the season by standing in the garden and sharing the warm fruit. A gifted writer who crafted charming stories for her children and grandchildren, Janice left a collection of precious letters, essays, and entertaining tales. And while she said she’d never be the equal of her sister Vanda, Janice also enjoyed playing the classics on piano, especially her favorite, Debussy’s Claire de Lune.

After retiring from MSU, Janice volunteered her time at the NewHope Medical Clinic in Owingsville, Kentucky and cared for a multitude of stray cats and dogs who wandered (sometimes literally) through her front door. She looked forward to every visit from her family and each child was thrilled when the journey finally brought them to Bunny’s long, winding driveway. Her home was where everyone wanted to be.

Janice’s family and friends will forever miss her and know there will never be another like her. She is pre-deceased by her husband David. Janice is survived by children Kelly Nelson (Kevin) of Lexington, Boone Brumagen (Tina) of Wellsville, Pennsylvania, and Regan Brumagen of Corning, New York; grandchildren Bennett Bradley, of Lexington, Will Bradley (fiancé Emma Lewis) of Morehead, Kegan Brumagen (Hannah) of Navarre, Florida, Paige Brumagen of San Diego, California, Ciaran Brumagen (Chelsey) of Gulfport, Mississippi, Caolan Brumagen of Minot, North Dakota, Nate Ianovici, Devin Ianovici, and Leila Ianovici, all of Corning; one great-grandchild, Peyton Brumagen of Gulfport; her sister and companion Vanda DeMarcus of Wilmore, Kentucky, sisters-in-law Jeannie Turner of London, Ella Webb, and Jenny Brumagen, both of Lexington, brother D.D. Turner (Lisa) of Jacksonville, Florida, and brother Harold Turner (Diane) of London; and special cousins, Faye Walker and Josephine Frost of London. Janice has many beloved nieces and nephews in both the Turner and Brumagen families.

Among Janice’s many friends and colleagues that will remember her fondly are her regular lunch companions, Dr. Betty Porter, and Betty Tapp, both of Morehead.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a date in the future. 

Memorial contributions can be made to the following charities Janice contributed to:

NewHope Free Clinic: NewHope Ministries, Inc./NewHope Clinic/41 S. Court Street P.O. Box 1088/Owingsville, KY 40360-1088/ [email protected] STAR animal rescue in Morehead, KY: http://stardogrescue.org/donate/ Kentucky Educational Television: https://ket.org/donate