Effie Sue Turner, age 87 of Ferris, Texas passed away on Saturday, November 18, 2017 surrounded by her family.
Mrs. Turner was born on October 11, 1930 in Palmer, Texas to Floyd and Ruby Warren. She graduated from Palmer High School in 1947.
She married John H. Turner, Jr. on November 1, 1947, and the couple just recently celebrated 70 years of marriage together. John and Sue made their home in John’s hometown of Ferris, Texas where they raised two sons.
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In her early years, she worked as a homemaker, and later began working at Sears Retail Store in downtown Dallas, followed by Data Documents in Hutchins, Texas for 16 years. After retiring from Data Documents, she worked at the State Fair of Texas, and she had a brief stint as editor of the Ferris Wheel, formerly the local newspaper in Ferris.
Mrs. Turner was a leader in the Circle 4-H Club in Ellis County while her sons were 4-H members. She was also a Cub Scout leader and she was dynamically involved with the Ellis County Farm Bureau organization. She continued her service and support of Ellis County 4-H, Ferris FFA and the Boy Scouts of America while her grandchildren were involved in these organizations many years later.
Sue was active with the Ellis County Republican party and was a founding member of the Ellis County Republican Women. Over the years she received various awards and accolades, and she was most recently honored by the Texas Federation of Republican Women at the 2016 Texas GOP Convention for her outstanding service to the Republican Party.
The Turners were members and previously attended Ferris Baptist Fellowship (formerly First Southern Baptist Church) in Ferris where Sue played the piano and organ and was the church secretary at one time. The couple had most recently been attending church at the Cowboy Church of Ellis County in Waxahachie. She remained strong in her faith over the years.
Several years after putting both sons through college, she commuted to Texas A&M Commerce and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industry and Technology in 1984.
Designing and building parade floats, photography, woodworking and crafts were some of Sue’s favorite activities. She also enjoyed campaigning for candidates she supported and she enjoyed volunteering as an election judge for various elections over the years.
She is preceded in death by her older sister, Floydene Lenamond, her son Dennis, and her parents.
Mrs. Turner is survived by her husband John, son Terry and wife Nancy of College Station, ten grandchildren including Melody Allen and husband Donny of Waxahachie, Xan Turner of Dallas, Hamilton Turner of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Ty Turner of College Station, niece Valerie Stanton of Red Oak, nephew Larry Slade of Bristol, a very special sister-in-law Mayfair Mullican of Ferris, other loving in-laws, and numerous great nieces and nephews.
A visitation was held on Monday, November 20th at Green Funeral Home in Ferris, and the funeral service was held on Tuesday, November 21, also at Green Funeral Home in Ferris, followed by a graveside service at Ferris Memorial Park North cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the Ferris Memorial Park North cemetery fund.
