Donald Wynn Turner

Donald Wynn Turner passed away peacefully in his sleep Saturday, October 14. It was soon after the death of his beloved wife, Susan, he was diagnosed with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy also known as Broken Heart Syndrome, which ultimately led to his passing.

Don was born on June 14, 1938, in Cat Corner, Tennessee to Charley Emerson and Nellie Gertrude Turner. Charley was a sharecropper. He was their eleventh child and fourth son. Soon after his birth, his family moved to Friendship, Tennessee where they resided through Don’s high school years. Throughout his youth, Don picked and chopped cotton, drove tractors, and enjoyed time with friends and family, especially his mom.

Following his high school graduation, Don and some buddies got a wild hair to move to Los Angeles. He loved the beautiful cars and the opportunity of the big city. His story may have continued there, but when his father passed away in 1957, he returned to Tennessee in a $25 Model A Ford to help take care of his mother and his sister, Brownie. It was during this time that he met the love of his life, Susan Kay Rice. Supposedly it was a blind date, but they both said they knew each other. She was short in stature but large in love, and they married on November 17, 1962. Don and Susan, now living in Memphis, soon welcomed a daughter, Allison Elaine in 1963. They had a son, Donald Thomas in 1970 and another son, Terry Wynn in 1972. Don worked supporting his family at the Kellogg’s plant in Memphis for 38 years and had a commercial mowing and grading business on the side.

Family always came first with Don. He was loyal, caring, patient, soft-spoken, slow to anger and quick to smile. Wise beyond his education, he could seemingly fix anything but especially loved fixing small engines (Briggs and Stratton only please), building model RC planes and toy trains. He loved to go fishing with his buddies in the “YoYo club”. He loved watching birds, growing tomatoes, gardening, mowing the grass and driving tractors. He was always there to listen and lend a hand should anyone have a need. After his retirement from Kellogg’s, Don enjoyed spending time outdoors and with family. He preferred listening to big band music, Floyd Cramer, 50’s music and always wished he had learned to play the piano. Don lived a full life and enjoyed time with those he loved over possessions. He had an infectious smile that spread from ear to ear. He was a great listener that spoke sparingly but when he did you’d better listen.

Don fractured his hip in March of 2023. Then suddenly and tragically, in June of 2023 after 60 years of marriage, his gal Susan passed away. By the grace of God, they are now reunited with each other and with their Savior. There are many ways to measure a life. Don took 85 trips around the sun. He lived 31,169 days but it only took 127 without Susan to break his heart. Don leaves his children, Allison Ezell (Scott), Donald Thomas (Cassie), Terry Wynn (Rachel) and four grandchildren, Victoria Estelle, Henry, Neyland and Turner. He also leaves behind one surviving sister, Jeanette Greene, and too many nieces and nephews to name. He will be missed but remembered fondly by those that loved him. The family wishes to thank all those who took such good care of him over the last 7 months.

The family will receive friends from 12:00 until 2:00 pm. A Memorial Service will start at 2:00 pm. Visitation and services will be held at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 N. Germantown Parkway, Bartlett TN 38133.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemphisFuneralGermantownParkway.com for the Turner family.