Charles Roy Turner

Charles Roy Turner passed quietly in his little home on the lake in Medical Lake, WA, on Sunday, June 1, 2025, just short of his 90th birthday. What a beautiful homecoming it must have been! Born June 22, 1935, in Missouri, to John and Edna Turner, Roy was a simple man who lived a simple life. Roy had a head for numbers, the skills of a master contractor, a curiosity of nature, and the “cleverness of a fox.” Roy grew up in the Wenas, working a dairy with his family and fishing the Wenas Creek every chance he got. Roy left school in the 10th grade at Selah High and started working for Matson Fruit Company to help his family and buy his first car. That’s where he discovered he had a head for numbers and was mentored by Cy Terrel and others to learn all the skills to run a warehouse. He was an electrician, a plumber, a contractor, a welder, a mechanic, and poured miles of concrete, in addition to inventing machinery for the fruit packing industry, all without any formal training. Roy was drafted into the US Army in 1958 and served in Germany, sharing a mess hall table with Elvis! He also played football on his time off from the Provost Marshal's office or driving courier. Reva joined him in Germany, and they had the travel adventure of their lives. He was an Expert Sharpshooter and was Honorably Discharged in 1962. Roy returned to Matson Fruit, where he built the first Controlled Atmosphere Storage Units in the Yakima Valley and managed their shipping, along with everything else, for another 25 years. Roy was passionate about hot rod cars, grandbabies, hiking, fishing native cutthroat, betting on the Seahawks with Uncle Johnny, and anticipating that first crocus bloom. He had an eye for the beauty of a perfectly mitered corner and a flashy horse in vintage Western movies. He always tried to live his life as “the only bible someone may ever read”. A member of the Selah community for 80 years, Roy built an incredible life for himself, his parents, 8 siblings, and, most notably, his beautiful wife Reva, their two children Debra and David, his four grandchildren, and his three great-grandchildren whom he loved with all his heart. May his name and memory be a blessing. Roy is survived by his daughter, Debra (Doug) George, grandchildren Dona, Sarah, Cora, and William George, and his great-grandchildren Violet, Marshall (Hyslop), and River Turner Smith, as well as his siblings, Betty Filbeck, Deoraine Vetch, John (Ricki) Turner, Jerry (Sandy) Turner and Mert Nixon. Roy was preceded in death by his wife, Reva, and son David, his parents, Pastors John and Edna Turner, brother Marvin, and sisters Alameda and Lenora. A memorial potluck luncheon will be hosted by the family at the Selah Civic Center’s “Apple Room”, 216 S 1st Street, Selah, WA, on June 22nd at 1:00 pm. Bring a side salad or a pie to share; catered by Selah Subway. In lieu of flowers or cards, the family is asking for donations to the Turner Family scholarship fund at the Selah School District to support graduate career pathways into the skilled trades, engineering, and manufacturing occupations. Donations will be collected on June 22nd or can be made directly to the Selah Schools District Office, 316 W. Naches Ave, Selah, WA 98942. A graveside gathering will be held at Terrace Heights Memorial Park, 3001 Terrace Heights Dr. in Yakima, WA, on Monday, June 23, at 11 am, where he will be laid to rest with Reva and beside David in eternal peace.

Charles Roy Turner

June 22, 1935 - June 1, 2025