Freestone County, Texas Obituaries Mexia Daily News newspaper August 29, 2006 James C. Turner Funeral services for James C. Turner, 93, formerly of Cotton Gin, were held this morning (Tuesday, August 29, 2006), at 11 o’clock in the chapel at Ricks- Bowers Funeral Home in Teague. The Rev. Marcus Sheffield, pastor of Mexia First Baptist Church, officiated. Interment followed in Driver Cemetery (Freestone County). Mr. Turner passed away on Saturday, August 26, 2006, in Austin. James C. Turner was born on April 24, 1913, to Joe and Sara Turner in Gary, Texas. He attended school until the fifth grade when had to drop out and go to work to help support his family. He worked very hard, but was proud to have made the sacrifice and see that his siblings finished school. He held numerous jobs while growing up, including a brief move to California to work for his uncle in the citrus industry. In those days he was often paid in food or other goods, rather than money, for his labor. He was also a heavy equipment operator and worked on numerous road and pipeline projects in East Texas. He was proud to have helped to reconstruct the New London School after the explosion in 1937. Two days after his birthday in 1939 he married Vernie Norton and shared over 62 years together until being separated by her death in 2001. Mr. Turner was a member of the Baptist Faith. He was baptized in a pond near New London. He served as a deacon at the First Baptist Church in New London and was in charge of the bus ministry program there at one time. He worked for various petroleum companies and retired from Arco Oil Company in 1978 when he purchased land in Cotton Gin and moved to Freestone County. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Mexia. After the loss of his wife, he moved to Austin to be near his family. He is survived by his daughter, Joyce Parker and husband David of Austin; his son, Jimmy Turner and wife Patti of San Antonio; his daughter-in-law, Earline Turner of Prairie Lea; seven grandchildren - Jay Turner and wife Becky of Walburg, Sarah Heibel and husband Tim, and Debra Hays and husband Craig, all of San Antonio, David Parker and wife Brenda of Manvel, Angela Himes and husband Les of Honolulu, Hawaii, Rhonda Wolff and husband Mike of San Antonio, and Adam Parker and wife Jaime of Sachse; 12 great-grandchildren; a sister, Minnie Ward Turner Williams of Georgia; and numerous other relatives. Mr. Turner was preceded in death by his wife, Vernie Turner; his parents; a son, Sam Turner, and by eight siblings. ================================================================= Fairfield Recorder newspaper Thursday, August 31, 2006 James C. Turner Funeral services were held Tuesday in Teague for James C. Turner, formerly of Cotton Gin, who died Saturday, August 26 in Austin. Mr. Turner was born April 24, 1913 to Joe and Sara Turner in Gary, Texas. He attended school until the fifth grade, after which he went to work to help support his family. He held numerous jobs while growing up, including a brief move to California to work for his uncle in the citrus industry. He was also a heavy equipment operator and worked on numerous road and pipeline projects in east Texas. He was proud to have helped reconstruct the New London School after the explosion in 1937. Two days after his birthday in 1939, he married Vernie Norton and shared 62 years with her until her death in 2001. He served as a deacon at First Baptist Church in New London and was in charge of the bus ministry program there at one time. He worked for various petroleum companies and retired from Arco Oil Co. in 1978, after which he purchased land in Cotton Gin and moved to Freestone county. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Mexia. After the loss of his wife, he moved to Austin to be near his family. Services were conducted at 11 a.m. at Ricks-Bowers Funeral Home, with Rev. Marcus Sheffield officiating. Burial was at Driver Cemetery. Mr. Turner is survived by his daughter, Joyce Parker and husband David of Austin; his son, Jimmy Turner and wife Patti of San Antonio; his daughter-in-law, Earline Turner of Prairie Lea; Seven grandchildren, Jay Turner and wife Becky of Walburg, Sarah Heibel and husband Tim and Debra Hays and husband Craig, all of San Antonio; David Park and wife Brenda of Manvel, Angela Himes and husband Les of Honolulu, Hawaii; Rhonda Wolff and husband Mike of San Antonio; and Adam Parker and wife Jaime of Sachse; Twelve great-grandchildren; one sister, Minnie Ward Turner Williams of Georgia; and numerous other relatives. Mr. Turner was preceded in death by his wife, Vernie Turner; his parents; a son, Sam Turner; and eight siblings. The family asks that memorials be made to the Firt Baptist Church in Mexia towards the Media Ministry. Arrangements were made by Ricks-Bowers Funeral Home in Teague. ================================================================= Waco Tribune-Herald August 28, 2006 James C. Turner James was born to Joe and Sara Turner. He attended school until the 5th grade when he had to drop out and go to work to help support his family. He worked very hard, but was proud to have made the sacrifice and see that his siblings finished school. He held numerous jobs while growing up including a brief move to California to work for his uncle in the citrus industry. In those days he was often paid in food or goods for his labor rather than money. He was also a heavy equipment operator and worked on numerous road and pipeline projects in east Texas. He was proud to have helped reconstruct the New London School after the explosion in 1937. Two days after his birthday in 1939 he married Vernie Norton and shared over sixty-two years together until being separated by her death in 2001. Mr. Turner was a member of the Baptist Faith. He was baptized in a pond near New London, Tx. He served as a deacon at the First Baptist Church in New London and was in charge of the bus ministry program there at one time. He worked for various petroleum companies and retired from Arco Oil Co. in 1978 when he purchased land in Cotton Gin and moved to Freestone County. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Mexia. After the loss of his wife, he moved to Austin to be near his family. He was preceded in death by his wife, Vernie Turner; one son, Sam Turner; his parents; and his eight siblings. Survivors include his daughter, Joyce Parker and husband, David, of Austin; son, Jimmy Turner and wife, Patti, of San Antonio; daughter-in-law, Earline Turner, of Prairie Lea; seven grandchildren, Jay Turner and wife, Becky, of Walburg, Sarah Heibel and husband, Tim, and Debra Hays and husband, Craig, all of San Antonio, David Parker and wife, Brenda, of Manvel, Angela Himes and husband, Les, of Honolulu, Hawaii, Rhonda Wolff and husband, Mike, of San Antonio, and Adam Parker and wife, Jaime, of Sachse; twelve great- grandchildren; sister, Minnie Ward Turner Williams, of Georgia; and numerous other relatives. Ricks-Bowers Funeral Home, Teague, Texas.