John Wendell Turner, son of Wendell Luyster and Ethel Adeline (Stewart) Turner, passed from this life on October 2, 2008 at the age of 79. John was born November 4, 1928 on a farm southwest of Vici, known as the Brace Place, and remained in the Vici area for most of his life.

John's grade school and high school years were spent in the Vici Public School. The family moved two miles west of Vici in 1949.

On December 20, 1954 John was united in marriage to Miss Geraldine Louise Brown. They moved for a short period of time to Grinnell, Kansas but returned to Vici to establish their permanent home on Turner Farms, west of Vici. John and Geraldine were blessed with the birth of their two sons, Wesley Lynn and Dennis John.

John spent his entire lifetime farming and ranching. He enjoyed every aspect of the business from raising Hereford cattle, to wheat harvest, to working on his equipment in the shop. One of John's first jobs off the farm was driving the local school bus at the age of 16. Through the years he also worked at the Woodward Sale barn, Combs Equipment, and on grain elevators. John enjoyed riding horses and even tried his hand at bull riding. He liked to go to farm sales and always appreciated a good piece of John Deere equipment. When not working on the farm, John liked to hunt.

John was an honored brother in the Masonic Lodge for 54 years, and was a member of the Vici Lodge No. 465. He held the office of Worshipful Master in 1975 and had received his 50 year award. He served on the Board of the Vici Cooperative for 6 years as well as the Board of Union Equity. He also sat on the ASCS Committee. John received the award for the most consecutive years of attendance to the Vici Alumni celebrations, 50 plus.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Wendell and Ethel Turner; by sisters, Margaret Ellen Turner and Adeline Turner Laird; and by brothers-in-law, Jerome Brown and James Laird.

Those loved ones remaining are his beloved wife, Geraldine Turner of the home; sons, Wesley Turner and wife Michele Randall of Vici, OK and Dennis Turner and wife Ramona of Mooreland, OK by grandson, Braden Leatherbury of Sharon, OK; by granddaughters, Fawn Robertson and husband Kelly of Sharon, OK, Sandy Turner of Vici, OK, and Katie Lyon of Mooreland, OK; by five great-grandchildren; by several aunts, cousins, other family and many friends.

Funeral services will be held Monday, October 6, 2008 in the United Methodist Church, Vici, OK @2:00 p.m. with burial following in Sunnyside Cemetery. Services arranged by Shaw Funeral Home, Vici, OK. Condolences may be made at shawfuneralhome.net