Robert “Bobby” Turner was born November 6, 1947, in Yoakum, Texas. When he was seven he moved to New York with his dad (Bob) and Mom (Pearl) and sisters, Ella and Carol, and brother, Tommy.
He attended Brentwood Schools and played baseball, soccer, lacrosse and wrestling. At sixteen he moved to Sealy, Texas, with his sister, Ella. He attended Sealy High School where he played football and graduated in 1966. His first job was at the Sealy Auction Barn. He continued on to Blinn Junior College and graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelors of Arts in teaching. He then went to work for Hardin Jefferson ISD where he taught mechanical drawing, drove a school bus and served as a guidance counselor. During this time he continued his education at McNeese State University where he received his Master’s degree in Education. After teaching ten years at Hardin Jefferson, ISD, he completed a 30 year career as a field supervisor at GSE Lining Technologies, Inc. and retired in 2010.
Over his lifetime, he enjoyed hunting, deep sea fishing, traveling and spending time with his family and friends at his beach house. He truly enjoyed vacationing in Cabo San Lucas where one of his proudest moments was winning the Bisbee Black and Blue Marlin Tournament in 2001. He was known to spend months at a time at his lease in Uvalde where he enjoyed hunting and watching the wild life, looking for arrowheads and in the evenings he most enjoyed building and sitting by a fire as he star gazed. Bobby lived life to the fullest, touched many people, was loved and will be missed. “Our Sweet Soul!”
Survivors include his brother, Thomas Turner and his wife, Lucy, of Alvin; sisters, Ella C. Lyons of Church Point, Louisiana; and Carol L. Venturella and her husband, Sam, of DeRidder, Louisiana; nieces, Kim Smotherman, Karen Kiesling, Kelly Cory, Kasey Castille, Kandice Broussard, Kristie Bourgeois, Rachel Miska, Dena Marie Fogleman, and Desiree Gros; nephews, Thomas S. Turner, Robert Lane, Sam Venturella III, Darrell Venturella, and Darlon Venturella; and numerous great-nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Pearl Turner and one nephew, Damon Venturella.
A gathering of Mr. Turner’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Monday, February 22, 2016, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. His funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 23, 2016, at Broussard’s. A graveside service will follow at 3:00 p.m., at Confederate Cemetery, 110 Cemetery Road at SH 35, Alvin.
Memorial contributions may be made to conservation efforts in your area.
The family would like to thank the ICU Medical Staff at Baptist Hospital for their wonderful care and support.
