The Samuel Earl Turner Family

Samuel "Sam" Earl Turner, Jr. was born 25 Sept. 1871 in Itawamba County, Mississippi to Samuel Earl Turner and Mary E. Johnson. 

Both of Sam's parents died while he was a mere boy leading to him living with various Uncles in Mississippi until he was grown.

Sometime between 1880-1890, the Turner Family (along with the Garrett, Gardner and Johnson Families) made a move into the Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory (Present day S.E. Oklahoma) and Sam was among those who emigrated.

On the 4th of April 1892 in Gilmore, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory, Sam Turner married Virginia Gertrude Gardner (born 3 Sept. 1874 in Itawamba Co., MS.), daughter of Abram Gardner and Lucenda Livingston.

I suppose Sam worked any job he could to put food on the table.  From family stories and historical records, we know that he and his family farmed for Polk McAlvain near Kennedy, Choctaw Nation, I.T. (Located in present day Leflore County, Oklahoma) and that for a time, Sam would meet the train in Wister with a buggy; the old time version of a taxi cab. 

Pictured in the photograph is the family he and Virgina "Virgie" raised.  The photograph was taken near Lonestar, Oklahoma which now sits under Lake Wister (Leflore County.)

Persons in the photograph L-R: Samuel Earl Turner, Jr., Virginia Gertrude (Gardner) Turner.  In front of Sam and Virgie - L-R: Lou Lavelle Turner (Married Richard Eugene Johnston.), Granddaughter Lois Lucille McAlvain (Married Dillard Cooper & then Jerome Pugh).  Next to Virgie going L-R again: Eula Belle Turner (Married Homer Lee Frederick Kirkley), Maudie Corine Turner (Married Edgar Scantling), Aubrey Marion Turner (Married Mary Ina Shearer), Lillie Augusta Turner (Married George Washington Vaughn), Willis Euel Turner (Married Florene Tennie Glenn & Nola _____ ), Edna Estelle Turner (Married Thomas Jay McAlvain & then Grover Commodore Freeman) and Edgar Earl Turner (Married Alice Maye Wilson).  (Sorry we don't know the name of that mule!)

Samuel Earl Turner, Jr. died in 1937 and is buried in Heavener Memorial Park Cemetery, Heavener, Leflore County, Oklahoma next to his wife, Virginia Gertrude Gardner who passed away in 1929.

Edgar Earl Turner died 14 Dec 1972 and is buried in Oak Grove Memorial Gardens, Irving, Dallas County, Texas.

Edna Estelle Turner (McAlvain, Freeman) died 27 May 1984 and is buried in Heavener Memorial Park, Heavener, Leflore County, Oklahoma.

Willis Euel Turner passed away 6 Nov 1988 and is buried in Wister City Cemetery, Wister, Leflore County, Oklahoma.

Aubrey Marion Turner moved away from Oklahoma and currently, I can find no place of burial for him but believe it to be somewhere in Texas.

Lillie Augusta Turner (Vaughn) died 3 February 1994 and was buried in Mountainview Cemetery, Leflore County, Oklahoma.

Eula Belle Turner (Kirkley) passed away 22 May 1993 and was buried in Howe Cemetery, Howe, Leflore County, Oklahoma.

Maudie Corine Turner (Scantling) died 9 June 1992 and was buried in Heavener Memorial Park, Heavener, Leflore County, Oklahoma.

Lou Lavelle Turner (Johnston) passed away 22 Oct 1992 and was buried at Heavener Memorial Park, Heavener, Leflore County, Oklahoma.