LUMBERTON, Texas — A Southeast Texas family will finally get some well deserved peace. The parents of Kay-Alana Turner will be laying their daughter to rest on Saturday, November 23.
The 27-year-old had been missing for more than a year when her remains were found in a wooded area in Montgomery County in April 2024.
Turner's parents say she left specific wishes for her funeral and they want to honor those wishes. They say instead of her loved ones being sad, she wants them to remember to be kind to others and have fun.
"She would always say 'when I go I want ya'll to remember that the first three letters of funeral are fun. And I want ya'll to not be sad because I'm going to be with Jesus.'," said Rosa Calhoun, Turner's mother.
Rosa and Robby Calhoun, Turner's parents, will spend this weekend honoring their beloved daughter.
"She wanted it to be carnival themed so we have a lot of carnival stuff," Rosa said.
Her family members spent Thursday evening decorating Woodcrest Methodist Church in Lumberton where her services will be held.
"One of our dear friends who has loved her her whole life built her casket. And she will be wrapped in the blanket that Robbie and I were gifted from his grandmother when we got married," Robbie said.
It's finally a moment of peace for the family after they spent over a year searching for Turner after she went missing in Tomball in March 2023.
"We know a lot of people who have been in this same type of situation, and they still don't know where their loved is, so we're thankful," said Robbie.
Turner's remains were found seven months ago in a wooded area in Montgomery County thanks to multiple searches made by Texas Equusearch.
"What they've done for Kay-Alana and our family is just unbelievable," Robbie said.
Her parents say she was struggling with a mental crisis and a heart condition.
"She lived with it and I think that's why she lived life so joyously," said Rosa.
Robbie wishes more could have been done to help when she was encountered by authorities.
"Harris County Sheriff's Office decided this is a homeless person on drugs," he said.
Robbie and Rosa wish that more could have been done to help their daughter in her time of need, but they are relieved to have answers and closure.
"When you die, that's when you start living so we're confidents she's living and we hope to be living one day too," said Robbie.
There will be a visitation on Friday, November 22 at Woodcrest Methodist Church from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The funeral will start on Saturday, November 23 at 10 a.m.
The Calhoun's say anyone who wants to celebrate their daughter's life is welcome to come.