Jimmy Ray Turner Obituary

Jim passed away suddenly on Saturday, February 13, 2021, in Whitehouse, TX. He was born October 5, 1947, in Livingston, TX. He grew up and graduated high school in Goodrich, TX where he met and married the love of his life, Judy. They were happily married for 53 years and enjoyed many trips throughout the US and abroad and most recently camping in their RV with the goal to visit every baseball park in the USA.

Jim proudly served in the US Army from 1966-68 and received the Army Commendation Medal with Valor for his service in Vietnam. He remained close with his army brothers serving as South Midwest Chapter Commander of the Americal Division Veterans Association and attended annual reunions.

He worked his way through college, graduating Cum Laude from UT Tyler in 1981. Jim was able to combine his passion for helping people with his keen business knowledge in a long and successful career with Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, retiring in 2018.

He was a natural leader and consequently took on leadership roles within every organization he participated in. He attended Green Acres Baptist Church since 1971 and served as a Sunday School Teacher, Mission Trip Leader, a Deacon, Boy Scout Leader and on various committees. Jim helped to create the Faith-Based Dorm at Bradshaw State Jail and was active in KAIROS Prison Ministry and Prison Fellowship. Through the years he served in a variety of other civic and ministry organizations. He was currently serving as the president of Tyler Gideons South Camp which gave him an outlet for sharing the gospel. He used every opportunity to share a Gideon New Testament Bible with his team throughout Tyler and to the curbside deliverers at Walmart along with a monetary tip and a personal note sharing God’s love.

Jim’s biggest recreational passion on this side of Heaven was fishing. He fished every day he got a chance, relishing the time with his sons and exploring almost all the lakes in East Texas.

Jim was preceded in death by his children Elaine and Tony, his parents Andy and Ola Mae Turner and his brother Lewis Turner. He is survived by his wife Judy; daughter Jana and her husband Ken Chapman and their daughter Haley and her husband Clint Odom and their children Silvia, Lydia, Christiana and Simon; daughter Beth and her husband Vance Price and their children Jacob and Brooke and her husband Craig Karaki and their children Lorna, Clark, Emrys, Ronin and Priscilla; son Benjamin Turner and wife April and his children Addison, Camryn Clifford and her daughters Collette and Delilah, Corben, Londyn, Aven, and stepdaughter Arwen; son Daniel Turner and his wife Wendie and their son Cade; brother Joe Turner and his wife Ann; 3 nephews and 1 niece.

Graveside services are pending.

If desired, memorials may be made to The Gideons at P.O. Box 130821, Tyler, TX 75713 or CentrePoint Ministries, http://www.centrepoint.cc.