John M. Turner

John M. Turner, 90, of Little Rock, passed away on March 1, 2024. He is survived by his daughter Jean Turner Carter and son-in-law Dan Carter of Little Rock, AR; his granddaughters Catie Carter Thacker of Memphis, TN and Christen Carter (Hugh Lemond) of Little Rock, AR; his grandson Payne Carithers (Kelsi Lawson) of Wichita, KS; and his great-granddaughter Elaine Thacker of Memphis, TN. He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Jean Turner, and by his daughter Jan Turner Carithers.

He was a graduate of Camden High School and of Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, AR.  He developed a love for golf as a child and played regularly into his eighties.  He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.  He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

While in college he began his broadcast career as a radio announcer at KAMD in Camden and KVMA in Magnolia.  During this time, he was the play-by-play announcer for local high school and college football games.  After college graduation, he was hired as the Director of News & Programming for KTVE Channel 10 television in El Dorado, AR and Monroe, LA.  For seven years, he delivered the nightly newscasts and hosted a popular local country music show “The Big 10 Jamboree.”

In the early 1960s, John left television and began a career in public relations and government relations in the forest products industry working in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Washington, D.C.  He retired in 1998 as vice-president of government relations and head federal lobbyist for Georgia-Pacific Corporation.  

Leadership was a pattern throughout his life in church, community, and professional pursuits. He was a member of numerous professional and charitable organizations.  He was appointed to the Arkansas Forestry Commission by Gov. Bill Clinton. He chaired the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission. He received the 1996 Outstanding Alumni Award from Southern Arkansas University.  

Funeral service and interment will be held at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, March 9, 2024, at Christ Episcopal Church, 509 Scott Street, Little Rock, Arkansas. Officiant will be the Rev. Dr. Kate Alexander.   In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in John’s memory to SAU Foundation, 100 E. University MSC 9174, Magnolia, AR 71753. 

The family wishes to thank the caregivers and staff of Hickory Heights Health & Rehab for their compassionate care of John for the last year of his life.