Thomas Turner

Thomas Jerome Turner, 83, passed away September 8, 2020. He was born to August and Josephine Turner in Sabinal, TX on October 1, 1936. He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years Sandra Turner; his daughter and son-in-law Kelly and Steve Tefertiller and beloved granddaughters Shannon and Peyton Tefertiller of Flower Mound, TX; and his son and daughter-in-law Mark and Dianne Turner of Austin, TX. The youngest of eight children, Tom is survived by sisters Isabell Reed of Uvalde, TX and June Edwards of Sabinal, TX. He is preceded in death by his siblings Jeanette Alexander, Evelyn Shaw, AJ Turner, Bobby Turner, and Eunice Echols. Tom was blessed with many additional nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws.

Tom grew up on the Turner ranch in Sabinal, which led to his lifetime love of fishing, hunting and sports. He served as Class President throughout high school and was an avid athlete in football and baseball, as well as Captain of football team. Tom dedicated his life to ministry and serving others. He attended The University of Texas in El Paso on football scholarship, later transferring to UT Austin and finishing his degree in Biblical Studies at Abilene Christian University. He pursued graduate studies in Divinity at ACU and later Communication Studies at the University of Vienna, Austria.

Tom met Sandra Strahan at ACU and they married August 31, 1961 in Burnet TX. After university, he and Sandra joined a mission team and moved to Vienna to begin more than 30 years in ministry and benevolent service. He worked with churches throughout Austria and Europe and was the editor of the European edition of Firm Foundation, a religious periodical translated into multiple languages. Tom was a founding member of Eastern European Missions, a non-profit organization putting free Bibles into the hands of multitudes of people.

Returning to the US in 1979, Tom served as Pulpit Minister at Cameron Road Church of Christ and ministered in other Austin-area churches. Tom extended his career into Real Estate while volunteering in ministry. Tom was a loving husband and father, had a thoughtful and modest spirit, a keen intellect, and gift for delivering sermons that sat at the soul of the listener. Tom was stubborn and complex at times, with a wry sense of humor and a generous nature. Those who knew him feel his imprint and carry their love for him eternally.

A funeral service will be held at Vanderveer St. Church of Christ, 102 S. Vanderveer St. in Burnet at 2:00 p.m. with burial following at Burnet City Cemetery.

Memorial contributions welcome at: www.eem.org/donate

Arrangements were made by Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home in Burnet.

Condolences may be offered at www.clementswilcoxburnet.com