Charles "Tom" Turley

August 10, 1948 - March 6, 2014

Charles Thomas Turley, age 65, of Bradenton, FL, formally of Kokomo, IN, went to his heavenly home with Jesus his Savior on March 6th, 2014.

Tom was born August 10, 1948 in Kokomo, IN. He was the son of Rev. John R. Turley and Charlene Turley, who preceded him in death. Tom was also preceded in death by his older brother, John Carl Turley. He married Linda Parsons in 1967 and together they had Tom and Troy Turley. Tom then married Myra Kirkman in 1975 and had Patti Turley King and Charlie Turley.

Tom graduated from Peru High School, Kokomo, IN, in 1966. He then joined the U.S. Army and spent two tours of duty in Vietnam, where he was awarded the Bronze Star and Air Medal for his heroism in combat. After his military duty, Tom worked for Ski Nautique in Orlando, FL and Randy's Cycle Shop in Bradenton, FL. For 20 years, he was Randy's number one adviser with outstanding mechanical expertise per Randy. So many loved "Charlie" because of his dedication to solving problems and repairing engines when on one else could find the problem. Tom loved the water, jet skiing, fishing, boating, Nascar, automobiles, drag racing, flying Kites, the Sunday funny papers, Gospel music, and his sweet doggie, Suzie.

Tom is survived by sisters, Rebecca (Ron) Greene, and Cathy Sue (Terry) Uttinger, both of Kokomo, IN; sons, Tom (Tammy) Turley, Kokomo, IN,

Troy (Elle) Turley, Warsaw, IN, and Charlie (Melissa) Turley, Gainesville, FL; and daughter, Patti (Christian) King, Pelion, SC; 5 grandsons, 5 granddaughters, 1 great-granddaughter; and a very special sweetheart girlfriend, Chong Riviera.

Memorial service will be Sunday, June 29th at 3:00 p.m. at New Beginnings Christian Fellowship,1900 S Berkley Road, Kokomo, IN by Pastor Jeff Russell.

In lieu of flowers, all donations may be given in his memory to the local Salvation Army and New Beginnings Christian Fellowship Church.

"For God so loved the world, that He has given His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him should NOT perish but have ever lasting life."

"For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world but that the world thru Him might be saved."

John 3:16-17

Corinthians 15:3 and 4

"We believe Jesus dies for our sins and he was buried and rose again from the grave the third day."

I Corinthians 2:9

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him."

Thank you Jesus for dying on the cross.

"Amazing love" - "Amazing Grace"

Testimony of Charles Thomas Turley

My name is Charles Thomas Turley. I am the brother of Becky (Turley) Green, Cathy (Turley) Uttinger and the uncle of Alecia (Uttinger) Burdette. I would like to take this opportunity to thank every one of you for your prayers for me. They resulted in quite a miracle in my life. I would like to share my testimony of what God has done for me.

On October 28, 1997, I went to see Dr. Saef for a regular check-up. He gave me a treadmill test and needless to say I failed it. They sent me to Blake Hospital for an angioplasty that afternoon. I didn't feel like it was going to be any big deal, because I had one done 15 months prior. At the door of the cardiac unit as I sat in a wheel chair my family and I laughed, hugged and kissed. I'll see you in about an hour and a half. Little did we know that shortly after I was in surgery the monitor would flat line and code blue would come over the intercom. My family was devastated when they found out that it was for me that the doctors were calling for help. My heart had stopped for approximately 10 minutes. They then had to give me C.P.R. for 40-45 minutes. The doctor returned to my family telling them that they had revived me.

The next step was to do a triple bypass. There was no surgical team present at that immediate time. It was only a matter of very crucial minutes that nurses, anesthesiologists, etc., arrived from their homes to assist in this surgery. I had also had a stroke and severe pneumonia suppressed. This gives you an outline of what happened to me.

While they were trying to revive me I had an out of body experience, but it wasn't a positive one. I remember a sense of floating. I knew I was leaving the Earth like an astronaut would. I could see the seas, stars, mountains, and the Earth getting further and further away. It started getting darker and darker. A real fear came over me. I kept hearing all kinds of screams and terrorizing noises. Sounds that are impossible to describe. I had the sense that I would never return from where I had come from. I felt as though I was headed to a terrible place called Hell. Before I knew it I fell back onto the Earth. Several weeks later I woke up and found out what had happened to me. I started telling everyone that Christ not only healed me but He saved me! He has performed quite a miracle in my life. I feel like He has given me a second chance. I am so thankful for that I want to tell the whole world about it.

In a case like mine the doctors would have pronounced me dead within a three to four minute period. They said I kept fighting, and reaching upward as if I was trying to grab something or someone. This motivated the doctors to continue their work to revive me. They did an M.R.I. on my brain and said that I had brain damage. Well guess what...no brain damage! My family and I can't thank the Lord enough. I was given, the by Lord Jesus, another opportunity to be saved. The doctors just shake their heads. They still can't believe it.

It is so important not to take life or your relationship with Christ for granted. I felt like I was okay because I had been taught about God all of my life. Just because you say you believe that there is a God, doesn't mean that gives you automatic entrance into Heaven. I learned through my experience that I must believe that Jesus died for my sins and He was buried and rose again from the grave the third day according to the Scriptures 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. I thank God every day that He chose to give me another chance to truly know Him and live my life for Him.

Thank you again for your prayers and I hope that my testimony will be a blessing to all who read this and many others. God is still in the miracle working business. Believe me I'm a living testimony.

Love in Christ,

Charles Thomas Turley

Will There Be Any Stars?

by John R. Sweeney (composer) & E. E. Hewitt (lyrics), copyright 1925

I am thinking today of that beautiful land

I shall reach when the sun goeth down;

When through wonderful grace by my Savior I stand,

Will there be any stars in my crown?

In the strength of the Lord let me labor and pray,

Let me watch as a winner of souls;

That bright stars may be mine in the glorious day,

When His praise like the sea billow rolls.

Oh, what joy it will be when His face I behold,

Living gems at His feet to lay down;

It would sweeten my bliss in the city of gold,

Should there be any stars in my crown.

Chorus:

Will there be any stars, any stars in my crown

When at evening the sun goeth down? (goeth down?)

When I wake with the blest

In the mansions of rest,

Will there be any stars in my crown? (any stars in my crown?)

Amen.

Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;

and wisdom to know the d difference.

Living one day at a time:

Enjoying one moment at a time:

Accepting hardships as the Pathway to Peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;

Trust that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life and Supremely Happy with Him Forever in the Next.

In Jesus Name

Amen