Monday, March 1, 1999 | 11:21 a.m.
When students in Cindi Turner's third-grade class at Nate Mack Elementary School went on break three weeks ago, they had no idea that would be their last goodbye to their teacher.
Those students returned from break today at the year-round school in Green Valley to learn a sad lesson about the frailty of human life.
Turner, 30, a native Nevadan and mother of two, was killed Thursday after her automobile was struck in Henderson.
A Henderson man was arrested on three counts of felony DUI and one count of involuntary manslaughter.
Jeffery B. Marples, 40, was to have his bail hearing early today in Henderson Justice Court. Students at Mack were to observe a moment of silence this morning in memory of Turner, who had taught at the school for eight years.
Services for Turner will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Grace Community Church in Boulder City. A graveside service will follow at Boulder City Cemetery. Palm Mortuary-Henderson is handling the arrangements.
"A school is like a family, and when we learned about this last Friday we were in shock," Nate Mack Principal Teddie Brewer said today. "We will hold a memorial sometime in the future -- something in which all of our students can participate.
"She was an excellent teacher -- kind, friendly, upbeat. She was always interested in helping people, especially her students."
A crisis intervention team was at the school Friday. Also, parents were called after the accident so that they could talk to their children before they returned to school today.
Turner was killed when a Ford pickup struck her Chevrolet sedan at 4:53 p.m. as Turner was heading southbound on Valle Verde Drive near Clearwater Canyon Drive. The truck crossed from the northbound lanes and hit the Chevrolet, Henderson Police said.
Turner's children, 3-year-old daughter Kelsea and 7-year-old son Dustin, also suffered injuries in the accident and remain at University Medical Center. The girl is listed in fair and stable condition, while the boy is serious but stable, a UMC nursing supervisor said.
Born Cindi Rants on Oct. 11, 1968, in Boulder City, Turner was the daughter of Jack and Dorothy Rants, both of whom survive her and live in Boulder City.
She lived 22 years in Boulder City and eight years in Henderson. For her first two years at Mack Elementary, Turner taught first grade. The last six, she was a third-grade teacher, Brewer said.
In addition to her children and parents, Turner is survived by her husband, Curt Turner of Henderson, and three brothers, John Rants of Indiana, Steve Rants of Iowa and Chuck Rants of Boulder City.
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