Leo Turner was born on May 3, 1935, in Crescent, Oklahoma by a midwife. He was born to Joseph (Dotie) and Vada Turner; one of six children. He was raised in Kingfisher Oklahoma by Calvin and Effie Turner, after moving from Kansas at a very young age. He attended and graduated from the old Douglas school. After graduating he met and married his love, his friend, and soulmate, Birdie Jean Goodman Costello on June 10, 1960. Together, Leo and Birdie had 9 children.
He worked for Cimarron Electric for 40 plus years. He hauled hay in the summertime and trimmed trees to provide for his family. He also helped anyone else that might have a need. He coached a church League softball team for many years with his daughters being a part of that team. He gave his life back to Christ at a very young age and was very devoted to his church, Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, and church family. He had a warm welcoming spirit, loved everyone, excepted everyone, and his door was always open. He lived his life praising God for everything he was blessed with and didn’t mind telling anyone how good God had been to him. Even after retirement, Leo did a lot of volunteering around town. He always looked forward to working the park doing the Christmas in-lights festivities. He enjoyed farming while working for the McMillan’s and the Barrackman’s. He spent countless hours at City Cafe sitting at the round table with the other men solving all the problems of the world. On Wednesdays, he spent time at his second home with friends, buddies, all the ladies and gentlemen at Cimmaron Electric. He would take them donuts and they would always invite him to company cookouts and dinners and sometimes asked him to cook, which he enjoyed. Every woman that he met he would say ‘hey pretty lady’, which would put a smile on their face even if they were having a bad day. We will all miss him saying that.
Leo left this life on December 31, 2021. He leaves to mourn and celebrate his life; 5 daughters Lynn Turner Daniels of Kingfisher, Janet (Roy) Turner Hampton of Watonga, Vada (Darryl) Turner Chappell of Victorville, California, Vonnie Shirl (Bo) Turner Presbury of Laurel, Maryland, and Lena Smith of Jacksonville, Florida. 26 Grandchildren, 61+great-grandchildren, 5 great-great-grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and a whole bushel of friends.
He is preceded in death by the love of his life Birdie Jean Turner, his parents, 3 sons, 1 daughter, 1 brother, 2 sisters and a host of other relatives.