John Earl Turner

John Earl Turner, of Seale, Texas passed away in Pasadena on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at age 97. 

There will be Visitation at the Lake Limestone Baptist Church, beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 16, 2024.

Funeral services will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 16th at the Lake Limestone Baptist Church, with Dr. Marshall Johnston and Pastor Ken Worley officiating.  Burial will follow in the Seale-Round Prairie Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Gordon Turner, Cody Bass, Scott Blakeway, Mason Maglitto, Jesse Lawson, Lucian Williams, Matthew Williams and Chad Powell.

Honorary pallbearers will be John Baldwin, Kyle Ingram, Cameron Ingram, Larry Smith, Mark Coker and Dee Blakeway.

John was born to Johnnie Calip Turner and Edna Earl (Sadler) Turner on November 17, 1926, at Oletha, TX. He was preceded in death by his parents, Johnnie and Edna, his sister, Juanita Turner Newsome, his brother, Bill Turner and his wife, Hilda (Dodds) Turner.   He is survived by his children, Jeanne Turner Powell and Billy of Pasadena, Texas, David Earl Turner and Delecia of LaPorte, Texas. His grandchildren are Scott and Misty Blakeway, Christal Blakeway, Sara and Eric Hall, Chad and Rose Powell, Brittany and Andrew Thomas, and Maranda Turner. His great grandchildren are Mason and Erin Maglitto, Jesse Lawson, Tyler, Emma, Aubrey, and Jackson Thomas, Jensen Turner-Garcia, Allison and Brielle Powell.

John Turner graduated from Franklin High School in 1942 at the age of 15. He joined the Army in April 1945. He served until December 1946. He told many stories of his time in the service. One of his favorites was that he got to drive the Generals around during the cleanup in Japan in WWII. He said he was the only one in his squad with a driver’s license. He was proud of his service to his country. When he came home after his time of service, he enrolled in Sam Houston State Teachers College and earned a Bachelor of Science degree. 

He married Hilda Dodds on March 31, l951. They were married for 56 years.

In 1952, John moved to the Houston area with his wife and 6-month-old baby girl. He was the 50th employee to be hired by a new company, Ethyl Corporation. He was a chemist and a Lab Supervisor there until he retired in 1987. After he retired, he and his wife, Hilda returned to his Sadler/Turner homeland. They built a house, and he spent the rest of his life tending his cows, bailing hay, serving in his church, and taking Hilda on vacation every fall. 

He and Hilda donated a portion of their property so that the Seale community could have a place to worship. He and his brother, Bill helped build Lake Limestone Baptist Church. 

John served as a deacon at South Avenue Baptist Church in Pasadena. He also taught a Junior Boys Sunday School Class there. Three of his former students surrendered to the ministry and became pastors. He later served as a deacon at Lake Limestone Baptist Church.

John Turner loved God, he loved his family, he loved his church, and he loved the Franklin Lions football team.

In lieu of flowers you may send donations in memory of John to Lake Limestone Baptist Church, 17905 Sterling Robertson Dam Rd, Thornton, Tx 76687.