Chris Turner: A Lasting Legacy

A Lasting Legacy: Chris Turner set a high bar for what a dedicated, passionate citizen activist can accomplish. Her passing on May 15, 2020 leaves us with heavy hearts. 

Chris Turner
Photos provided by the family of Chris Turner

“I need to ask Chris about that.”  This was a phrase echoed by many of the people who knew her. Chris was a fantastic researcher and a wealth of knowledge on many issues. We had the good fortune to work closely with Chris on our shared efforts to defeat the world’s largest fracked gas-to-methanol refinery in Kalama, WA. Chris was dogged in her determination to stop this project — her in-depth, detailed research, her consistent participation in countless meetings and hearings, her hard-hitting questions — all of this helped lay the groundwork for a consistent, multi-year case demonstrating that the Kalama methanol project would do more harm to Kalama and the climate than the company was admitting. In 2019, persistent questions raised by Chris and many others led the Department of Ecology to take over responsibility for critical aspects of the project’s environmental review, leaving the future of the project in doubt. 

Chris Turner with cats
 Photos provided by the family of Chris Turner

Chris was not only a persistent force on the Kalama project, she was a watchdog for issues all throughout the region. She had a knack for spotting things that did not add up. Whenever Chris spoke up in a meeting, everyone leaned in a little to listen. Chris didn’t have a loud voice, but she used it patiently to share the salient points gathered during her hours of background research to help inspire and equip her community with the information necessary to make the case for keeping Kalama safe and healthy.

Aside from her eye for detail, her technical savvy, and her sense of humor, the people who knew Chris know that her best asset was simply who she is. Chris was peaceful, generous, and kind. She cared deeply about her family, her community, and the environment we share. 

Chris will be greatly missed by all of us at Columbia RIverkeeper, as we know she will be by the many people who knew and loved her. Chris’ campaign work, research, and her example of steadfast activism are a lasting legacy that will continue to benefit our community and environment for many years to come. Thank you Chris, for all of it.

Chris Turner in Nature
Photos provided by the family of Chris Turner
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