John Turner
John Turner
John Turner
1945-2017
Funeral services for John Edward Turner, 72, of Wills Point, were held Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017, at Russell Memorial United Methodist Church in Wills Point.
Burial was held Friday, Feb. 24, 2017, at DFW National Cemetery in Dallas. Services were under the direction of Hiett’s LyBrand Funeral Home.
Mr. Turner was born on Jan. 18, 1945, in Dallas, to parents, Earl Turner and Francis Bagley. He was raised in Mesquite and graduated from Mesquite High School. He enlisted in the United States Army from 1963-1967, during the Vietnam War. While in the military, he received numerous awards for valor and merit, including: National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, One Overseas Service Bar and Marksman (Rifle M-1).
He attended Abilene Christian University, and graduated with an associate’s degree in art in 1976 and a degree in science in 1977. He married Maria Alvizo in Las Vegas, on April 15, 1989, and they stayed in Garland until moving to Wills Point in November 1990.
He was with the City of Garland Police Department from 1970, as a patrol officer, then moving up to Lieutenant of Homicide from 1983 to 1998, where he then retired. He also worked for the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office, starting in November of the year 2000, retiring as Chief Deputy in 2012, and then serving as Interim Chief in the City of Wills Point off and on for a two year period until his health declined. He was an avid Nascar fan as a season ticket holder and got the whole family involved because of his enthusiasm for the sport. He also loved golf and was extremely proud of his “hole-in-one.”
He is preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Francis Turner; daughter, Krystal Mojica; eight siblings, Moxie Turner, Benton Turner, James Joseph Turner, Earl Turner, Jr., Priscilla Gaddis and Sandy Rice.
He is survived by his wife, Maria Turner of Wills Point; sons, Shea Turner and wife, Katie of Canton and Gilbert Soto and wife, Yosira of The Colony; daughters, Monica LaJone and husband, Danny of Wills Point and Sofia Lara of Garland; sisters, Syble Neely of Garland and Patricia Seratt of Rockwall; brother, B.F. Turner and wife, Nancy of Rockwall and eleven grandchildren, Nicole Cannon, Andrew Stubbs, Giselle Soto, Marisa LaJone, Jenessa Delgado, Austin Mojica, Joel Delgado, Carson LaJone, Guliana Soto, Nathan Balderas and Averie Cantu.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Brandi K. McPherson Established in 2007, the Brandi K. McPherson Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to helping children and adolescents who have been diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, Ewing's, and other forms of cancer. To donate, please go to www.bkmfoundation.org, and click on the donate tab.
