A funeral service for Charles "Charlie" William Turner, 63, of Elysian Fields, Texas will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 22, 2022, in the Chapel of Downs Funeral Home. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Friday, October 21, 2022, at the funeral home.

Charles was born on December 28, 1958, in Centerville, Iowa to George Eugene Turner and Melba Jean Baker Turner and passed from this life and into the arms of Jesus on October 17, 2022, in Longview, Texas, after a hard-fought battle with illness, with his loving wife of 37 years beside him

He was originally from Centerville, Iowa, lived in Phoenix, AZ, Gallup New Mexico, and Shreveport La, but "moved to Texas as quick as he could," and made his home in Elysian Fields, Texas in 1992. He was an over the road truck driver as a young adult before transitioning into a lifelong career as a highly trained and respected John Deere mechanic. He worked for Marshall Farm and Ranch for 22 years before branching out on his own for another 15 years as a self- employed mobile mechanic. There was nothing he couldn't fix. He made a notable impact on the local farming community and his absence will be sorely missed. His passion was cooking, grilling, and smoking meats. He loved gardening, sharing and trying new recipes and gained a love for cooking from his mom. He was an avid hunter and enjoyed camping and fishing with friends. He was an Ambassador for the Harrison County Area Go Texan Committee where he raised scholarship funds for local graduating Seniors. He attended Bethany Baptist Church for many years where he served on the Building Committee and grilled for the annual "Beast Feast." In his later years he enjoyed having coffee with the guys at Doug's store every morning, where they would share stories, discuss politics, and solve the world's problems. Charlie had an excellent sense of humor, was artistic and an animated storyteller. He loved to make others laugh and never met a stranger. Every Christmas he could be found dressed as Santa Claus for local nursing homes and parades. He willingly served others in the community, the same community that returned the love by serving him in his last years.

He is preceded in death by his parents, George Eugene and Melba Jean Turner.

He is survived by his wife, Melessa Ann Turner of Elysian Fields, TX; children, Jonathan Turner of Bethany, LA and Jennifer Barnett and husband, Robert of White Oak, TX; sister, Deborah Jo Ramirez of Gallup, NM; grandchildren, Cheyenne, Colton and JaDon Turner and Makenna and Fynnlee Barnett; uncle, Ivan Stearns of Gallup, NM; cousins, Dena Rosales and husband, David of Gallup, NM, Keith Stearns and wife, Andrianna of Colorado Springs, CO, Stacie Bunch of Gallup, NM and Chris Stearns and wife, Kim of Show Low, AZ and nephew, Billy Padavich of Gallup, NM along with numerous other family and special friends.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in his honor to the Harrison County Area Go Texan.