of Harrison, AR

May 16, 1934 - January 11, 2026

Petra Cortez Vivo Turney, of Harrison, Arkansas, passed away on Sunday, January 11, 2026. She was born in La Carolina, Spain, and her birthday came with a family story that always made people smile. When her father went to register the births, the dates for Petra and her sister were recorded with the month and day swapped. So, on paper, Petra's date of birth was May 16, 1934, but the family celebrated her birthday on February 3, 1934, which they knew to be the true day.

She later met and married Bobby Ray Turney while he was serving in the United States Air Force overseas. In 1961, they returned to Harrison from Madrid, Spain, and made their home here, sharing 54 years of marriage before Bobby's death in 2015. Petra was a member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church. She worked hard throughout her life, including years at Levi's and later with the Harrison school system as a cafeteria worker at Skyline Elementary. Petra was known as a spirited, strong-willed woman with a quick wit, someone who spoke her mind and loved her people fiercely. She enjoyed traveling, shopping, playing Mexican Train Dominoes, watching Fox News and game shows, and was a loyal St. Louis Cardinals fan. In later years, she also enjoyed mysteries, especially ''Murder, She Wrote.'' Above all, Petra cherished time with her family, and her presence will be deeply missed.

Petra is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Michelle and Greg Siemiller of Harrison; three grandchildren, Hannah and Miles Lowery, Tripp Siemiller, and Mahala Siemiller; two sisters-in-law, Billie Denny of Springfield, Missouri, and Patsy Joyner of Carrollton, Texas; and extended family in Spain, including her nephew Baldomero and his wife Justine, nephew Pepe, and niece Virtudas.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bobby Ray Turney; sisters Maria and Enrequita; brother-in-law Jesus; brother Baldomero; and her parents.


Visitation will be 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., Thursday, January 15, 2026, at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Harrison, followed by a funeral service at 2:00 p.m.

Interment will be in Maplewood Cemetery.

 

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