Robert (Bob) James Turner
April 8, 1915 – Nov. 24, 2010
After an eight month stay at Yuculta Lodge in Campbell River, Bob Turner left to join his wife, Jean (Schibler) Turner, who predeceased him September 6, 2005. He passed away quietly soon after midnight November 24, 2010 with his son Lorne by his side and many wonderful caregivers in attendance who loved him for his kindness.
Bob was born April 8, 1915 in the Mission Hospital, Vananda, Texada Island to Margaret Ellen (Dewhurst) Turner and James Turner who homesteaded in Turner Bay on the Sunshine Coast. He was the first caesarean birth performed by Dr. Marlett, a new doctor from England.
From a very early age, Bob spent his entire life in the logging industry after attending diesel mechanics school in Vancouver. He had the ability to fix, build and repair almost anything. After he and his sister, Winifred Prendergast, inherited a small debt-ridden logging camp in 1939 from their widowed mother which consisted mainly of some rundown camp buildings, he and his brother-in-law Reo Prendergast, managed to operate a well respected gypo logging company P&T Logging until it was sold in early 1971. When they sold the outfit, Bob & Jean bought a resort on Shuswap Lake near Magna Bay in the interior of BC. They sold it 5 years later and returned to the land they loved, the BC Coast. With little help, Bob then built their house in Oyster Bay from the ground up. They later moved to Willow Point where he continued with his hobbies of vegetable gardening, making burl bowls & clocks, studying the stock market and was a voracious reader enjoying many genres.
His eldest daughter Rosalie Ellen predeceased him in July, 1944, his mother Margaret Ellen deMille in July 1943, wife Jean in September 2005, and his only sibling sister Winifred Prendergast in January 2007. He leaves behind to mourn his passing his: son Lorne Turner (Verna) of Campbell River, daughters Adele & Marcy Turner, North Vancouver and Tina Cray of San Antonio, Texas. Also to mourn him are his grandchildren Richelle & Amber Cray in Texas, Tyrel, Cade & Tamara Turner of Campbell River, plus his sister-in-law, Ella Schibler of Campbell River and a niece Margaret (Prendergast) Simmons of Courtenay. He has many grandnieces and grandnephews through the Prendergast branch & Schibler branch. In recent years, we found many cousins in Lancashire, England as his mother was from a very large family. One of the many surprises was finding her brother, John, who had immigrated to Massachusetts, U.S.A in 1903 then migrated to the Oakland, California area. He was thrilled to learn about all the family that he never knew about and always showed real interest when anything new was found.
Bob’s ashes will be interred with his wife Jean, near the Schibler clan in the Old Campbell River Cemetery. A small Memorial will be held in the Spring when our Texas contingent is able to fly north. In lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to honour Bob can make a donation to the Parkinson’s Society of BC, Suite 600 - 890 W. Pender St. Vancouver, B.C., V6C 1J9.
The Turner Kids would like to officially thank all the Yuculta staff who made our father’s last few months comfortable, positive and cheery. We deeply appreciate all the kindness you showed to our father.
Condolences to the family may be left at www.suttonsfuneralhome.com.
Sutton’s
Campbell River Funeral Home
“In Care of Arrangements”
250-287-4812
www.suttonsfuneralhome.com