Rex Turner (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Rex Boyd Turner, Sr. was born on April 30, 1929 to the parents of Orville Elwood and Ada Turner in Phillipsburg, Mo. He was born at home weighing a whopping 12 pounds…the fifth of 6 children. Little did anyone know the impact he would have on the lives of so many who loved him. He attended Lonesome Hill Grade School to eighth grade and then Phillipsburg High School where he graduated in 1947. He played baseball and basketball there and went on to have a great love of the sport and was an avid fan of college basketball, especially the SMS Lady Bears. During the early years, Rex learned from his father how to work hard as together they grew crops and truck farmed and tended the well-known Turner Apple Orchard. Years later, his garden was an important part of who he was an insisted on feeding the whole county with his watermelon and cantaloupe crop. He once raised a champion watermelon. Salsa making was a family event and he made the best!
In September 1950, Rex enlisted in the U. S. Navy where he served until honorably discharged in July 1954 as a Gunners Mate 3rd Class serving in Korea on the USS LST 855 and USS George Clymer (APA-27). He earned the National Defense Service Ribbon, the United Nations Service Ribbon, and the Korean Service Ribbon where he earned 6 bronze and silver medals. He also earned the Good Conduct Medal (even though he once missed the ship as he and his buddies went on an offshore hunting excursion).
After his navy duty, while working in Kansas City, he met his beautiful Hungarian bride, Suzy, and swept her off her feet at 17, but only after agreeing to go to church with her. They married on December 31st, 1955. They would go on to create a dynasty ….7 children (Rex, Jr. , Gwen Riggs and husband Duane, Theresa Wolken, Tom Turner who preceded him in death in 2009, Jessica Turner, Jennifer Linders-Glover and husband Mike, and Heather Hill). Fifteen grandchildren (Vanessa and Cassandra Turner, Jason, Ashton and Brendan Riggs, Kayla Blackburn, Adam, Aaron, Alex and Anthony Wolken, Heath and Tanner Linders, Charlie Glover, Dillon Turner and Journey Hill). These grandchildren along with their special spouses and partners made for a Christmas extravaganza which he loved so much. Sixteen great-grandchildren and more on the way. Rex loved each and every one and they loved him. He could not wait to see what they would become and would always call for daily updates on their various activities.
Rex ran the Turner Used Car business for many years and farmed cattle. His other passions were hunting, fishing, trapping, turkey calling, trips to Canada, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico with many friends and family over the years.
He was always the designated camp cook. He loved teaching those skills not only to his sons and grandsons, but his daughters as well. Rex once held the title of Midwest Turkey Calling Champion and led his daughters to also win many turkey calling contests. Making Indian spears, tomahawks, bows and arrows, and beaver skin vests were some of his special skills. Family events would sometimes turn into lessons on kite making and Navy knot tying.
Dad, PaPa, Grey Guy, Dork Dog, Papason, and the Great White Hunter were some of the many names we had for this wonderful man. We laughed, cried, worked hard, and loved. He was the King of nicknames for each of his children and grandchildren. Once you received your infamous nickname, it was yours for life.
Rex was also preceded in death by his grandson, Brendan Riggs in 2016, his parents, a son-in-law, Robert Linders, 2 brothers.… Hollis Dean Turner and Don Turner, 3 sisters…infant sister Georgia Turner, Ruby Lee Fers and Joan Barto. And now his family chain is whole again, joined together again in heaven with his parents and siblings. He was able to share his baptism day with his youngest daughter Heather in 1970 as he also declared his Catholic faith.
To say he was one of the roughest and toughest would be an understatement. We teased him about having 9 lives. Underneath all that was a sense of humor and tender heart like no other. His CATS were so special and precious to him!
Up to and including his last day on Monday, August 20, 2018 at the age of 89 years, 3 months and 20 days, Rex (Dad & PaPa), was surrounded by his family. His memories will live with us forever!
Memorial contributions to Lonesome Hill Cemetery, may be left at the funeral home.
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