Ira Douglas Turner

Ira Douglas (Doug) Turner, 91, of Jacksonville, Florida, went to sing in God’s heavenly choir on September 18, 2016. Mr. Turner was born on December 3, 1924 in Montverde, Florida to Ira Dell Turner and Anne Harper Turner. Mr. Turner served as a Marine in the Pacific Route during WW2 and was in the Battle at Iwo Jima where he witnessed the American Flag being raised. Mr. Turner graduated from Stetson University with a Bachelor’s Degree in business administration. Raised in Manatee County, Mr. Turner returned there to accept a position as Personnel Director for Tropicana Orange Juice. During that time, he was Music Director and a deacon at Palm View Baptist Church. In 1961 he planned and coordinated all the music with area churches for the Billy Graham Crusade. He was active in Kiwanis and several Christian organizations that worked with teenagers and college students.

In 1965 Mr. Turner became the Director of Student Financial Aid for the University of Florida, designing an electronic financial aid application process that was adopted by universities across the nation. He was a founding member of the Florida Association of Student Financial Aid Administration and lobbied in Washington for additional funds to make college available for low income students. Retiring in 1988, the University of Florida renamed the Pell Grant the I. Douglas Turner Grant in his honor and in 2001 commissioned a portrait that is hung in the Office for Student Financial Affairs.

Retiring to Jacksonville, Mr. Turner was a member of Deermeadows Baptist Church where he continued to sing in the choir. He and his wife worked on service committees. In 1996 a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease slowed him down but he was creative in finding ways to continue the activities he loved, primarily gardening and spending time with his grandchildren.

On June 1, 1946 Mr. Turner married his wife, Louise Pigott, who stood side by side with him in his career and Christian actives remaining devoted for their 69 years of marriage. He is survived by his wife, three daughters, Connie (David) Battiste, Carol (Neil) McCormack and Jane (Ken) Roper; sister, Eloise Markley; brother, Kenneth Turner; 6 grandchildren, James Battiste, Jeffrey Battiste, Clay Roper, Matthew McCormack, Katie Roper and Mitchell McCormack; and 5 great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held at Deermeadows Baptist Church, 9780 Baymeadows Road, Jacksonville, Florida, on Friday, September 23, 2016. Family greeting and viewing will be at 1:30 at the church and the service will begin at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers or gifts, the Turner Family would be grateful for donations made to the following organizations:

Haven Hospice

8301 Cypress Plaza Drive

Jacksonville, FL 32256

UF Foundation

PO Box 100243

Gainesville, FL 32610

On memo line, please note Douglas Turner, Center for Movement Disorders

The family wishes to especially thank Luz Cruz who cared for Mr. Turner at home for many years and the employees of The Terrace of Jacksonville and Haven Hospice who were there for him and our family for the last 3 years of his life.

Arrangements under the direction of Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Chapel, Jacksonville, FL.