Bobby F. Turner

age 76, passed away in his home on April 17, 2012. Born in a Phoenix hospital, Bob spent nearly his entire life in and around Peoria, developing deep roots in the community and many lifelong friendships. In 1953, he graduated from Peoria High School (now referred to as Old Main), as did his mother before him in 1929, and his daughter after him in 1978. Bob’s father arrived in Arizona at age 2 when Arizona was still a territory and clearly remembered watching the calamitous fire of 1917 when the business district of Peoria burned to the ground. That business district which is still standing today was rebuilt by the Turner family. (Box Number 1 in the Peoria Post Office remains in the Turner name.) Bob became batboy for the visiting PCL baseball teams beginning in the mid 1940s, an experience which led him into the fascinating world of autograph collecting for the next 53 years of his life. He was a gifted athlete in high school sports and particularly excelled in baseball. He was the fourth generation in a business of custom home building and remodeling in Arizona. Bob’s own career spanned 45 years, working first under his father’s tutelage and then on his own when his father retired. The Turner name was always synonymous with integrity and top quality workmanship. Bob had two children, Tammy (Azalee Elise) and Robert Brent, both currently residing in the San Francisco area. Tammy and her husband, Steve Flores, gave Bob two wonderful granddaughters, Alexandra, 14 and Victoria, 10. Bob married Merrily (Lee) Heynen in 1987 on Thanksgiving Day, a union which lasted nearly 25 years. His romantic marriage proposal was: "I love you, Lee, and want you to be my wife. I'll put in a doggie door." (Lee had six rescue dogs at that time, a number that would vary throughout their married life.) Among many interests, Bob and Lee worked at the Peoria Historical Society’s Museums for 13 years, she initially as a volunteer and then as their first curator, and he as a volunteer. Both passionately believed in the preservation of Peoria’s history. Bob also assisted Lee with her life-long dedication to rescuing and caring for all creatures great and small. They also enjoyed gardening together. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Helen Holly Turner. Bob will be greatly missed by so many valley folks whose lives he touched over the years. A celebration of his life will be held in his home in October. Details will be published at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: KOKO and FRIENDS at The Gorilla Foundation Box 620530 Woodside, CA 94062 or RUBY and FRIENDS at PAWS POB 849 Galt, CA 95632