James R. Turner

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Perry, Mich.

James R. Turner, 74 of Perry, Mich., formerly of Brighton, Mich., died at his home Thursday, Dec. 27, 2007. He was born on Jan. 23, 1933, in Caraway the son of Jarvis T. and Arrilla (Gosa) Turner. On Aug. 2, 1952, he was married to Jean W. Williams in Lake City, moving to Brighton in 1953. The Turners moved to Arkansas in 1994 and then to Perry in 2005. A veteran of the Korean War, Mr. Turner served in the U.S. Army. Injured in active duty, he received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. While living in Arkansas he was a member of the Viola Volunteer Fire Department. He was also a member of the Brighton Lodge 247 F&AM. Mr. Turner retired from GM in 1995 where he had been employed as a millwright for 30 years retiring from the Grand Blanc Plant.

Surviving, in addition to his wife, Jean, are his children, Brenda King of Brighton, Karen (Patrick) Fjerstad of Milwaukee, Wis., Jerry (Deanna) Turner of Perry and Melisa (Ken) Gowell of Brighton; four grandchildren, Sarah Turner, Kylie, Madison and Jace Gowell; a brother, Chandler Turner of Brighton, and a sister Luvina Gilreath of Arkansas.

Mr. Turner was preceded in death by five brothers and six sisters.

The funeral was held at noon Monday, Dec. 31, 2007, at the Keehn Funeral Home, 706 West Main Street, Brighton, Mich., with Pastor Lloyd Williams of the First Baptist of Fowlerville officiating. Interment was at the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, Mich.

The family requests anyone wishing to leave a lasting memorial consider the Great Lakes Hospice or the Brighton Lodge 247 F&AM.