Rev. Elmer Lee Turner's Obituary
Elmer Lee Turner, 83, “Buddy” to his family was born Aug. 28, 1933 in Rutherfordton, Cleveland Co. NC to the late Carl Reid Turner & Ruby Towery Turner and went to his Heavenly home on Thursday July 27, 2017.
A funeral service is scheduled for 4:00 pm Sunday, July 30, 2017, at Living Water Church of God. Pastor Wade Easom will officiate. Interment is scheduled for 10:00 am Monday, July 31, 2017 at Carolina Memorial Park in Kannapolis.
The family will receive friends from 2 to 4:00 pm Sunday at Living Water Church of God.
Buddy was called into the ministry at an early age and in 1959 moved to Cleveland, TN to begin studying at Lee Bible College. Upon completing the courses at Lee he began his ministry in the Church of God of Cleveland, TN. His pastoral charges began with New Philadelphia, OH in 1962 and included West Concord, Burlington, Gastonia, Kannapolis, Tarboro, Lincolnton, Mooresville and ended with Valdese in 1996.
After retiring as a pastor, he began working with Church of God World Missions in January 1997. With the missions department Buddy has organized many projects including building churches, feeding stations and kids crusades in South Dakota, Africa, Bolivia, Columbia, Ecuador, & Peru. He has delivered thousands of treat bags to children over seas at Christmas time. Many bicycles were purchased for missionaries and pastors in those countries and that is equivalent to an automobile in this country. Per the Church of God World Missions Department a preliminary total of over $2.6 million has been raised by E. L. & Doris Turner Ministries. He continued preaching most every Sunday in churches across the states of NC and FL raising funds for mission projects. His last sermon was July 16, 2017 at China Grove Church of God.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by 2 sisters, Betty Lou Turner & Mildred Watts.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years Doris Walter Turner of the home his son Donald Lee Turner, Sr. and wife Vicki of Iron Station, two grandchildren Kristina Michelle Turner of High Shoals and Donald Lee Turner, Jr. & wife Chelsea of Vale, three great grand children Bayleigh, Aydyn & MacKenzie Turner, sisters Linda Jordan and husband Bobby of Mt. Mourne, Joyce Ivey and husband Ty of Kannapolis, brothers, Jerry Turner of OH, Roy Turner and wife Terri of Davidson, Bobby Turner and wife Judy of Mooresville, and Billy Turner and wife Linda of GA. Buddy was preceded in death by two sisters, Betty Lou Turner and Mildred Watts.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Church of God World Missions in memory of Rev. Turner in c/o Living Water Church of God, 166 North Little Texas Road, Kannapolis, NC 28083.
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