James Dillard Turner

James Dillard Turner Jr, 83 of San Jacinto, California passed on Saturday, April 26, 2014, at The Village in Hemet, California. He was born Thursday, February 19, 1931 in Belvader Gardens, California, and was the son of the late James and Thelma Turner Sr. Born in 1931 into the Great Depression, Jim learned his legendary frugality. It's not that he was cheap - it's that he knew what it meant to go without.

He joined the Navy and served his country during the Korean War. He liked to tell of his time in Hawaii when he only worked two days a week by using his allotted leave time around the weekends.

He married Bonnie Jean, the love of his life, and they had three beautiful children - Amanda, David and Michael. He lived to see three great-grandchildren born. He is survived by his kids, his dear sister Janie, and all his family and friends who will miss him so dearly.

Jim was famous for being a problem solver. He designed the first circuit boards with no formal education in the electronics field. He could design anything, build anything, fix anything - but he couldn't figure out how to use his iPhone or hook his DVD player up to his TV.

To say he loved the outdoors would be a massive understatement. Fishing, hiking, camping - those loves were second only to his family. Give him a fishing pole and a sleeping bag and he could disappear for two weeks.

He was a strong, loving father and husband. He'd do anything for his family from working multiple jobs to putting his kids through college to picking up his lost daughter from Brea after she got lost from a date to Disneyland.

The poor man was the butt of many jokes. Bonnie once used a black magic marker to draw a smiley face on the back of his bald head. With Amanda as an accomplice, Bonnie once took their clothes and locked David and Jim out in the backyard while they were skinny dipping in the pool. Michael would tie the 4th of July pull-string firecrackers to everything - his briefcase, the garage door, the trunk of his car. It's a wonder he never died of fright. Despite his yelling, I think he secretly loved the attention.

He loved cowboy songs and cowboy movies. He was an ever-faithful man who cherished his faith. He was a hard and dedicated worker who proudly proclaimed he never worked a minute of overtime in his life.

Here is a poem written by his daughter Amanda:

Jim the Great was a nerd, for lack of a better word

He was kind, he was sweet

Oh what a find, to have a rare treat

He worked with his hands while others got tans

He took the toll, God rest his soul

James Turner the Great

Surviving are sons, David Turner of Riverside, CA and Michael Turner, daughters, Michelle Turner and Amanda Schuk, sister, Jane Meler; 6 grand children; 3 great grand children.