John William Turner

John William Turner passed away on August 21, 2026. John was born May 12,1940 in Houston, Texas to the late Frances and Dr. William Turner. He graduated from Sam Houston State University in 1962 with a BBA and began working in Dallas, Texas for Hartford Insurance Company as an adjuster. He transferred to Houston in 1967 while working for Hartford full time and began night law school at South Texas College of Law where he graduated with a JD in 1970. He was licensed to practice law that same year. He began his legal career as an associate with Miller, Gann and Perdue as a civil trial lawyer; was a partner at Perdue, Turner & Berry from 1970-1980; board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law and was a solo practitioner from 1980 until 2006. From 1973 thru 1991 John: was on the board of directors of the Houston Trial Lawyer’s Assn; a member of the 4-AA Grievance Committee for the State Bar of Texas; was on the board of directors for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; was Vice President of the Houston Medical/Legal Society; was president of the South Texas College of Law Alumni Assn.; was named outstanding Alumnus at South Texas College of Law; was a member of the personal injury advisory committee on legal specialization for the Texas State Bar Assn.; was an advocate in the American Board of Trial Advocate Society; was the Chairman of the Board of Visitors at South Texas College of Law; funded and created the John W. Turner Lectures on Professionalism at South Texas College of Law; wrote numerous legal articles and gave presentations for various organizations, including the State Bar of Texas, nursing groups, and hospitals throughout the State of Texas.

John is survived by his beloved wife Betty, which he shared nearly 64 devoted years of marriage, daughter Karen Turner-Smith and her husband, Robert Smith He is also survived by nephew David MacPhee. The family requests charitable donations be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation, or the charity of choice in John’s name.

John will be deeply missed by his family, friends, colleagues and the many people whose lives he touched.

There will be a service announced later at Memorial Oaks Funeral home in the Terrace Mausoleum.