Mr. Herbert H. Turner

Herbert Clark Hoover Turner (“Herb’) was born on January 13, 1930 to the late Mamie Turner Moore and Willie Jack Turner in Hope, Arkansas. He grew up in Hope with his mother and two sisters, Pauline and Buzette Turner. He attended Yerger High School, participated in the sport of football and graduated in 1949. After graduation, He attended Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas. While attending college, he was drafted in the United States Army and served for two years. During his service, he came home on leave and married his high school sweetheart, Doris Covington. After returning to duty, he was deployed to Japan to fight in the Korean War. While on the ship going to Japan, he met his longtime friend and business partner, Walter Lee (“Walt”) Summers, who became like a brother to him. After the war was over, he was discharged with honors in 1953. Returning home, Herb and his wife and daughter relocated to Kalamazoo, Michigan where they began their married life together. He started working for Boylan Buick, where he learned his trade of auto body repair and from there he worked at Checker Motors, becoming the expert that he was in the auto body repair business. Herb started working on the side doing automobile body repair in a friend’s garage. After being successful with his side business, he and Walt decided to go into business together and their business, “Turner and Summers Body Shop” was a success in the city of Kalamazoo for over 50 years. Their body repair shop was chosen to paint the car that was used in the movie, “Blue Collar” starring Richard Pryor. Herbert was a very dedicated member to his church family at Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church. He loved attending bible study and served many years as an Usher and Trustee, never saying “no” when asked of his service in any way. He was a happy, willing vessel to his church, his family, his friends and neighbors and enjoyed doing it. He also enjoyed gardening, growing all sorts of vegetables, doing yard work and building things. He was known by many friends and family for receiving “those collard greens”, from his garden. Being from Hope, Arkansas (the city for growing the largest watermelon on record) he tried so hard to grow a large one here in Kalamazoo, but the Michigan climate just wouldn’t provide the temperature long enough to grown that “great big one”. However, he did succeed growing one that weighted 40 pounds and he was so happy about that! He also enjoyed inventing things and creating them in his own creative way. He and his wife, Doris loved to decorate with some of his creations, at Christmas time. Their home decorations grew and grew to become a yearly place for the people of Northside Kalamazoo to view and enjoy with their families and friends at Christmas time. Their home was voted six times and won First Place for the Best Home Christmas Decorations. They were also interviewed by Channel 3 News and the Kalamazoo Gazette and other articles were published about their creative decorations. His wife said he was not happy unless he was doing something to keep himself busy. He will truly be missed by everyone that crossed his path. He leaves to mourn, his wife of 63 years, Doris Covington Turner; one daughter, Charlotte (Gary) Luke; two grandsons, Garison Turner (“Luke G”) and Brian Turner Luke; two great granddaughters, LaNiyah and Kerrington Luke; one sister, Buzette Jackson; his special friend, Walter Lee (Catherine) Summers and many nieces nephews and friends.

Mr. Herbert H. Turner

January 13, 1930 - December 3, 2015