Henry Rush Turk

HENRY RUSH TURK, 63, passed away suddenly at his home in Little Rock on Dec. 21, 2011. Rush was born in Pine Bluff on July 4, 1948 to Charles Henry Turk and Clifton Eugene (Gene) Barrett Turk of Sherrill, Ark. Growing up as an only child in the community of Sherrill, he enjoyed the company of his Barrett, Albright and Colclasure family relatives and cousins, all descendants of Captain and Mrs. John M. Barrett who established a cotton plantation on Plum Bayou near Sherrill in the early 19th century. Rush attended public school in Sherrill and was a graduate of Altheimer High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where he pledged Kappa Sigma Fraternity and was an active member of the Arkansas Alumni Association for many years. After attending the University of Arkansas School of Law, he studied for an MBA degree at the University of Chicago. Following family tradition, Rush participated in joint farming operations and related agricultural services with relatives throughout his life. A devoted supporter of the Democratic Party, he was an aide to Congressman Ray Thornton in Washington, D.C. and served as a reading clerk in the Arkansas House of Representatives for many years. He enjoyed fundraising activities for the Clinton presidential campaign while residing in Los Angeles, Calif. Preceded in death by his parents, Rush is survived by special friend, Harlan Clarke Merritt of Little Rock and by two aunts, Ada Katheryn Albright and Wilsie Mae Colclasure, formerly of Sherrill but now residing in Little Rock. He is also survived by first cousins, William Barrett Albright and Dr. Ray Colclasure of Pine Bluff, Martha "Kitten" Albright Coop and Dr. Joe Barrett Colclasure of Little Rock, and by many close relatives and friends. As a lifelong member of Sherrill United Methodist Church, Rush's life will be celebrated at a service to be held in the church at Sherrill on Thursday afternoon, Dec. 29 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sherrill United Methodist Church, attn: Don Pipkin, 5901 Earl Chadick Road, Sherrill, Ark. 72152. Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct., Little Rock, (501)224-2200. Rush's online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.