Elizabeth Anne Atkins, age 72, of Cedar Rapids, IA, completed her earthly journey on June 13, 2026, at Dubuque Specialty Care, with her daughter, Dori, by her side. To honor Elizabeth’s life, a private family committal is being held under the care of the Tri-State Cremation Center.

Elizabeth was born on January 23, 1954, in Corpus Christi, TX, daughter to Gene and Sue Anne (Graham) Turner. Gifted with an artist’s spirit and a fierce independent streak, she spent her youth loving the beach, surfing, and listening to the Beatles, Rock and Roll, and Blues Music. Though she attended a private Catholic school in her hometown, she ultimately walked her own path in life.

As a young Navy wife, she moved across the country, living in Virginia Beach, VA; Charleston, South Carolina; Jacksonville, Florida, and Macon, Georgia. When her marriage ended in Georgia, her legendary resilience emerged. With the assistance of her brother Matt, she packed up her young daughters and drove them all the way to Anchorage, Alaska—braving the rugged, unpaved Alcan Highway. Demonstrating her fierce independence, she would later make that massive, challenging drive a second time entirely on her own with her beloved girls.

Elizabeth successfully raised her daughters with a high school education, teaching them by example what it meant to be self-reliant. She spent her working career primarily as a medical receptionist, investing her time and talents with the Iowa Eye Center and RCI Imaging Center in Cedar Rapids, IA. She took great pride in her work but also fiercely guarded her personal life. She expressed her rich inner world through photography, detailed pen and ink drawings, poetry, and a memorable trip to Italy. She also possessed a deep love for music, spending many evenings at live blues events in Cedar Rapids.

In her later years, Elizabeth chose a life of privacy. She deeply cherished her own space, finding comfort in the quiet, and embraced a peaceful, solitary life. For Elizabeth, a perfect day was found in the absolute peace of her own home, sitting comfortably on her couch with a cold Diet Pepsi and Judge Judy on the TV.

Those left to cherish the memory of Elizabeth include her two daughters, Carrie Anne (Glen) Coppin of Ruskin, FL, and Dori Keegan Atkins Sevde of Dubuque, IA; her three adored grandchildren, Graham Keegan Sevde, Meyer Paul Sevde, and Sadie Brynn Coppin; her siblings, Johanna Gene Turner, Mark Graham (Lori) Turner, Leslie “Dee” Lynne (Mike) Turner, and Jon Kyle Hannah; her step-father, Kyle Herbert Hannah; and many extended family members. She was preceded in death by her parents, Gene and Sue Anne Turner; her brother, Matthew Aaron Turner; and her nephew, Simon Mitchell Antonucci.

In keeping with Elizabeth’s explicit wishes, no formal funeral or memorial services will be held. She preferred to be remembered privately in the hearts of those who loved her. Her family will fulfill her final request by returning her cremated remains to the ocean, scattering her ashes at sea so she may rest eternally in the waters she loved.

Online condolences for Elizabeth’s family may be left at www.tristatecremationcenter.com