James David Turner November 18, 1946 ~ November 10, 2023 (age 76)

Funeral services for James D. Turner, 76, of Portales, will be held at 2:00 PM, Wed., Nov. 15, 2023 at the Floyd Baptist Church with Rev. Rick Wilcher officiating.  Burial will follow in the Portales Cemetery with Zachary Turner, Clint Turner, Garrett Lee, Clay Lee, Shannon Lee, Terry Young and Larry Young serving as pallbearers.  Larry Mead, David Nash, Jeff Welch, Jerry Hammond, Rick Kennedy, Joe Whitehurst, Greg Pohlmeier, Randy Miller, Wayne Stovall, H. B. Love, Jimmy Lockridge, Bubby Welch, Alvin Elvik, Dink Looney and Brian Gardner along with all his old trucking buddies will serve as honorary pallbearers.

James David Turner was born Nov. 18, 1946, in Portales, to the home of Clara “Lorene” (Poff) and David Middleton Turner, and passed from this life on the evening of Fri., Nov. 10, 2023 at his home in Portales.  James lived his entire life in Portales, and was a 1965 graduate of Portales High School.  Shortly after graduating, he began farming on his own, an occupation he continued until 2011.  On Jan. 5, 1967, in Portales, he was married to Judy Darlene Young.  In 1969, James purchased a truck, and leased to Steere Tank Lines.  In 1975, he leased to Zero Refrigerated Lines.  Then in 1983, he established his own trucking company, James D. Turner, Inc.  At one time he was running three trucks.  For many years, he hauled starch to Gypsum plants in CA, where it was used to make the glue to paste paper on dry wall board.  On the return trip he brought fresh produce to Texas and New Mexico.  For the last few years before he retired in 2016, James hauled milk.  When he was no longer able to drive, he continued to operate the company until June of 2018.

James was a hard-working man, who drove his truck back and forth between Portales and California, and did his farming during the few days he was home.  Family time was spent in the truck.  When his children were out of school, they would sometimes travel with him to California where they would go to the amusement parks, and have vacation time.  James was a member of the Floyd Baptist Church.

He is survived by Judy, his wife of almost 57 years of their home; his son, Blake Turner and his daughter and son-in-law, Tammy and Shannon Lee all of Portales; four grandchildren, Clint Turner, Zachary Turner, Garrett Lee and Clay Lee; ten great-grandchildren, Tessa, McKenzi, Rhea Lynn, Harper and Henley Lee, and Jenson, Kameron, Coleson, Archer and Adalynn Turner; and a brother, Orvel Turner of Portales.  He was preceded in death by both of his parents and a brother, Derril Turner.

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