Obituary of Keith Dee Turner

Keith Turner passed away on Monday, August 4, 2014, at St. Lukes Magic Valley Memorial Center. He was 87. He was born in Waco, Texas, the only child of K.D. and Naomi Ruth Turner on December 18, 1926. The family soon moved to Oklahoma where he spent most of his growing –up years. He graduated from Clinton (Oklahoma) High School where he was an outstanding athlete lettering in football, baseball, and track winning first place in the broad jump in the Oklahoma State track meet in his senior year. Also in his senior year he began his romance with Ruth Meyer. That developed into a loving marriage that lasted 66 years. Following graduation from high school Keith served in the U.S. Army after which he and Ruth were married. They attended Oklahoma A. and M. (now Oklahoma State University) together and graduated in 1951. Keith continued his education at Oklahoma City University earning a degree in Elementary Education. Later he received a Masters’ degree in elementary school administration at Long Beach State in California. The Turners were blessed with two sons, David and John who were Keith’s pride and joy and always his favorite hunting buddies. In 1952 the family moved to Lynwood, California, where Keith had accepted his first teaching job, teaching 6th grade at Washington Elementary School. That turned out to be a memorable year for those 30 6th graders, memorable enough that 13 of the students held a reunion with him in Lynwood as part of their 40th class reunion. In 2010 former student, John Shaw, organized a surprise reunion in Twin Falls for Keith that was attended by 13 former students and 5 of their spouses for one last visit with their “favorite teacher”. The Turner family moved to Twin Falls in 1958 after Keith accepted the job of principal at Lincoln School. Students were in awe of this principal who came out and played with them at recess and could walk on his hands for long distances. He was principal at Lincoln for 17 years before being transferred to the newly built Sawtooth Elementary School where he was principal for 13 years. His students knew him as a kind principal who disciplined them fairly and spent time with them on the playground. He retired in 1988. Keith was an avid outdoorsman. He loved to hunt and spent many happy hours hunting with David and John. He also took his boys on two survival trips where he taught them to “live off the land” for several days. He made movies of those trips and showed them many times to schools, Boy Scout groups, and churches. He also built a clubhouse in our backyard for the boys and their friends to play on. It was built 5 ½ feet off the ground and was equipped with climbing ropes, trapezes, and a pole to traverse, all fun and muscle building. As a hobby Keith made masterpiece rifle stocks and beautiful hunting knives. Beginning when he was 16 he made over 30 rifle stocks and made numerous knives which he gave away to very appreciative friends. Keith was a faithful member of the Twin Falls First Baptist Church since 1958. He served on several church boards and often visited shut-ins. He was also known to drop by the church office from time to time and treat the pastor and secretary with chocolate candy. He was preceded in death by his parents; one granddaughter, Natalie; and one grandson, Jake . He is survived by his wife, Ruth; sons David (Shauna) and John (Lori); grandchildren Audrie Terre (Stephan) , Emilie Turner (Laurie), Crystal Ayers (Brian), Saxton Turner; great grandchildren Kaitlynn Ayers, Leif Terre, Trey Haight, and Carter and Clara Pochynok. Keith’s memorial service will be held at the First Baptist Church located at 9th and Shoshone at 11 AM on Saturday, August 9, 2014. A private family burial service will be held later at Sunset Memorial Park. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church or to a charity of the donor’s choice. Arrangements are under the direction of Rosenau Funeral Home.