Ernest Edward Turner

Ernest Edward Turner, of Little Rock, Arkansas, died on November 19, 2014. He was born in Arkansas at Buck's Well near Bois D'arc Creek on August 12, 1921, to Clinton Edward Turner and Lillie Mae Morgan Turner. He is survived by his daughters, Suzanne Turner Shivers (Doug) and Tina Turner (Ray Wittenberg), granddaughter Laura Katherine Choate, stepdaughters Wanda Morris (Randy) and Sylvia Tidwell, adopted son Russell Dougherty (DeeDee), son in law Bill Tidwell, brothers A.Z. Turner and Lloyd Turner (Patty), sisters Dorothy Cochran and Erma Ann Thomas, and sister-in-law Mary Alice Turner and many nieces, nephews, and friends whom he loved dearly. He is predeceased by his wife of 43 years, Laura Reid Turner, his daughter Laree Turner Tidwell, brothers Clyde Turner and Howard Turner, and partner, Arlene Moore. He served in the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) and in the Signal Corp of the U.S. Army during World War II. He began his career with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company as a lineman and retired 35 years later as a PBX installer, where he prided himself in being the "go to" guy for solving complex problems. Following retirement he enjoyed his membership with the Telephone Company Pioneers. He was a Mason and member of the St Luke Methodist Church where he served on the building committee for the sanctuary. He was a hard worker but loved to have fun staying active after retirement - hunting, fishing, gardening and bee keeping. In his final years he remained mentally alert. He was an avid reader enjoying the daily paper and many books. The family would like to acknowledge the care given him at Nursing and Rehab at Good Shepherd, especially nurses Diana and Jasmine, and Mr. Coffee, Ronnie. He also enjoyed the friendship of his table mates in the "mess hall". "They've all come to meet me, arms a-reached smiling sweetly. It's so good to touch the green, green grass of home." Visitation will be at 12 noon, Saturday, November 22, 2014, at Herndon-Pharr Funeral Home in Hope, Arkansas, followed by service at 2 p.m. Burial will follow at Anderson Cemetery, Springhill, Arkansas. Memorials may be made to St. Luke United Methodist Church, Little Rock, Arkansas or Easter Seals of Arkansas. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com and Herndon-Pharr Funeral Home, www.pharrfuneralhomes.com.