Mark D. Turner

Mark D. Turner, age 56, of Grants Pass, died Wednesday, December 24, 2008 at Three Rivers Community Hospital.

A viewing will be from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 31, 2008 at Hull & Hull Funeral Directors.

A funeral service will begin at 10:00 a.m, Wednesday, December 31, 2008 at Hull & Hull Chapel. Graveside services will follow at 2:00 p.m. at Eagle Point National Cemetery.

Mark was born March 8, 1952 in Glendale, California. He graduated from John Burroughs High School in Burbank, California in 1970. Mark served for 26 years in the United States Army including tours in Germany, Korea and the Middle East where he obtained the rank of Chief Warrant Officer (CW4). Among numerous meritorious awards-he was recognized with the Legion of Merit Award upon his retirement in 2001. In 2000, he also graduated from Western Illinois University. From 2001 until his death, he was Deputy Program Manager for Stanley Associates with the U.S. Passport Agency. In January 2002, he married his wife, Melanie while living in California. They relocated from Northridge, California to Oregon in July 2005.

His hobbies included spending time with his family and friends, collecting John Wayne films, fishing and hunting.

Survivors include his wife, Melanie Turner of Grants Pass; four children, Richard Turner of Decatur, Alabama; Jessica Dykema (and husband, Steve) of Cape May, New Jersey; Emily Sims (and husband, Will) of Decatur, Alabama; and Josh Turner of Decatur, Alabama; two stepsons, Tom Garland of Grants Pass and Ryan Hedge of Santa Barbara, California; his mother, Ileta Turner of Burbank, California; a sister, Cindy Turner of Burbank, California, a brother, John Turner (and wife, Jill) of Colorado Springs, Colorado; and six grandchildren, Joshua, Drew, Trinity, Ayden, Mallory and Ethan.

He was preceded in death by his father, J.C. Turner.