Alyssa Turner

Alyssa Turner passed away suddenly from an unexpected combination of respiratory complications on April 9th, 2025, after 31 years of life. Alyssa was born on March 25th, 1994, in South Ogden, Utah, to her loving parents Allen and Leila (Whiting) Turner. Alyssa was the first born yet always the baby of four children.

Alyssa was born with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS), a rare genetic disorder that caused her small stature, hearing loss, cognitive and developmental delays, and other physical limitations. When she was born the doctors said she wouldn’t live past two years old. She was determined to prove them wrong.

Despite many difficulties, she was a happy, loving child who adored music, dancing, and being with people. Her unique songs created joy. Her bright eyes and big smile would fill an entire room. She loved to sit on the sofa and cuddle with anyone who would hold her hands the right way. If you didn’t know the right way, she would show you.

She possessed a deep intellect and creativity hidden behind her physical limitations. Her curious mind was always trying to figure things out. She loved to find ways to merge random items in creative and unexpected ways– everything was an iPad holder, if she tried hard enough. She loved to be involved and in the middle of whatever you were doing, whether it was dad’s power tools, monster truck toys, cars, wave runners, or Roomba vacuums.

Alyssa spent countless hours with various therapists learning to sit, crawl, walk, and blow out candles. She loved birthdays and opening wrapped presents, so her family celebrated her birthday and half birthday every year. Often, she blew out candles on anyone’s birthday.

Because Alyssa was non-verbal, she loved people for who they were. She had a unique ability to understand and connect with others spirit to spirit. Her lack of language was a significant source of frustration for her and made it difficult for her to get what she wanted and needed. Despite this limitation, she found ways to communicate. You couldn’t force her to do something she didn’t want to do.

To know or be with Alyssa was to understand unconditional love. Her greatest gift was to teach others what unconditional love looks like and feels like in action. To those that accepted her, she showed unconditional love. To her family, friends, and caregivers, her passing has left a huge hole in many hearts, and she will be dearly missed.

She was preceded in death by her maternal grandmother Carole Brough Whiting, maternal grandfather Ned Allison Whiting, maternal uncle Scott Allison Whiting, and paternal cousin Zane Aiden Turner.

She is survived by her parents: Allen and Leila Turner; siblings: Corrine (Jason) Hammer, Andrew Turner, and Nathan Turner; honorary second mom: Allison Whiting; paternal grandparents: Bart and Sharlene Turner; aunts, uncles, cousins, and many friends.

A Celebration of life will be held Wednesday April 16th, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.at the Layton Angel Street Chapel, 628 S. Angel St, Layton, Utah 84041. Friends may visit family prior to services from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.at the church. There will also be a Video Memory Booth to preserve your stories of Alyssa.

The service will be livestreamed at the following link to Allen’s YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@allenturner5832/live

Internment, Lindquist’s Memorial Park 1867 N Fairfield Rd Layton, UT 84041

We are accepting photos and videos of Alyssa that will be compiled into a book and video. Submit photos, videos, and stories using this Google Form or email them to RememberAlyssaTurner@gmail.com.

In Lieu of flowers or gifts please consider a donation to her funeral fund, Venmo @Mark-West-105, or the CdLS Foundation.