Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- Deserae Turner-Buck, a Utah shooting survivor, was laid to rest Saturday.
- Turner-Buck's resilience inspired many, overcoming 48 surgeries and lifelong pain.
- Her family emphasizes remembering her life achievements, not just her tragic past.
LOGAN — A young woman from northern Utah, who captured hearts across the state and nation, was laid to rest Saturday
Deserae Turner-Buck inspired thousands after surviving a brutal attack eight years ago when she was just a teenager.
She passed away last week.
The parking lot was packed as people showed up for Turner's funeral. Her story is one many will never forget, but instead of remembering what happened to Turner, her family wants people to remember how she lived.
Turner was 14 years old when the world first learned her name. She survived a horrific shooting in 2017, left for dead in a canal in Smithfield by two teenage classmates. But Turner didn't just survive, she lived.
Despite permanent injuries, constant surgeries and lifelong pain, Turner did so much in her short time here. She graduated from high school, served a church mission and got married.
Her funeral included a full police escort from the church in Amalga to the cemetery in Smithfield. Her family says they appreciate all the support they have received from the community over the years, which also meant a lot to Turner.
"(Deserae's) saying was that she was tougher than a bullet. And yes, she was. For the last eight years, this girl gave her all," family friend Morgan Perkins said Saturday. "Forty-eight surgeries in the last eight years. This woman went through so much pain."
Earlier this month, Turner's health declined. She entered hospice care and said she's not scared of dying because she knows she will be OK. She died last week, at age 22, surrounded by family.
Gone but not forgotten
Deserae Turner, whose courage 'touched countless lives,' dies at 22
Desarae Turner, who captivated the state with her perseverance after she was shot in the head and left to die in 2017, has died. She was 22."She's tougher than me. She's tougher than you. And she's tougher than anybody who can ever go through any of this — and that is something that is so important for us to remember about her," Perkins said.
The family says Turner's grandmother passed away a few days ago, so they did two funerals in one day. But they're also at peace, believing they are now together.
