Our beloved Larry Keith Turner, 82, passed away peacefully at daybreak on May 4th, 2023 at his home in Fairview, North Carolina, surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren. We miss his wonderful sense of humor, his dynamic leadership, his compassionate ear, his gift of wisdom and his generous love every day. Larry's legacy, his lasting impression on our lives and his ongoing spiritual presence will forever remain with us. We are powerfully grateful for the support of our family, friends, neighbors, community and care givers.

On March 15th, 1941, Siri Eugenia (née Hermanson) and Irving Elmore Turner welcomed their firstborn child in Portland, Oregon. Larry was a second generation Swedish American. His Grandparents spoke Swedish in their home and their family attended the Swedish Covenant Church. Larry's spiritual and cultural heritage were deeply influential in his life. This led to a lifelong love of languages, cultures, and geography that bore fruit in his devotion to international ministry.

Their little family grew to include his beloved sister, Kathleen Joy, whom Larry affectionately called Cotton. Soon they moved to Cleveland, Ohio to live with Siri's parents, Mimmi and Herman, while Irving served in the army during World War II. We believe that the talk Irving gave his two year old son Larry before he left asking him to take care of his Mother and Sister, developed his loyal and protective Nature.

At the war's end, Larry's family reunited and returned to Portland, where Irving resumed work as manager of the Piece Goods floor of Meyer and Frank. This job later moved their family to the San Francisco Bay Area, where Larry and Cotton attended elementary school in a multicultural community. Young Larry enjoyed his childhood outdoors. He shared many stories of his favorite tree for swinging, sledding across the frozen Chagrin River, competitive neighborhood baseball leagues, his early morning newspaper delivery route by bicycle with his buddy Ward in Portland...and perhaps a few tales of mischief with Doug, Jim, Cary, Jerry and other friends.

Larry lettered in high school athletics, especially baseball and basketball. Fly fishing on the freshwater rivers and lakes of the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia was a beloved pastime with his extended family. First Covenant Church of Portland continued to influence Larry's life. One church member offered him a job in his roofing business . With this job, Larry worked his way through Portland State University, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Russian. He continued to play baseball, for a time was a member of a semi-pro team, as well as church softball. He worked for the Forest Service and brought this experience into his work with at-risk youth in Summer camp settings.

One Sunday in 1964, while Larry was considering officer's training school, he met a young nursing student who visited his home church with a mutual friend. Meeting her changed the course of his life. Nancy Jean Morgan came from Boise, Idaho, with family roots in Portland as well. After a courtship that included the Covenant Church community, they were engaged. For a time, Larry attended North Park Covenant Seminary in Chicago until he returned to plan their wedding. Larry and Nancy were married on July 1st, 1966 at the First Baptist Church in Boise, Idaho.

Larry and Nancy began their lives as newlyweds living on a farm and at a camp setting while Larry continued his work with at-risk youth. In 1968, Larry volunteered in the local Portland Billy Graham Crusade meeting’s office. Larry was soon hired to join the staff. After the Pacific Northwest Billy Graham Crusade was over Larry was asked to move to Anaheim, California; and thus began his lifelong career in ministry.

The early years were a whirlwind. Nancy and Larry moved from one city to the next. Nancy worked with the staff when she was not in Nursing school. In the Summer of 1971, they outgrew their sweet VW Karmann Ghia, when their firstborn child, Corey Morgan Turner was born in San Francisco, California.

Before the year was out, the three of them were back on the road. First to Charlotte, NC, and from there continuing to move as advance preparations for the Billy Graham Crusades were made, over a year in advance of the actual events. By the time they first arrived in Albuquerque in 1974, they had already lived in seven different cities. And before they left for Lubbock, Texas, they welcomed daughter Kimberley as the newest member of the family.

From there, came a brief foray back to the family roots in the Northwest for the Seattle Crusade, before Larry took responsibility for the upcoming 1976 event in Göteborg, Sweden where young Corey attended Swedish schools. They returned stateside afterwards, but soon returned to Stockholm to direct the second Swedish campaign. After wrapping the event in Stockholm, the four moved back to Albuquerque, NM where Larry and Nancy settled into their new home. The days of the family following Larry from city to city came to an end shortly before baby Jonathan arrived to complete their family. Within months, the full family of five was back on the road again, traveling across the United States to spend the next few months together in Halifax, Nova Scotia, while Larry prepared for the next meetings there.

The family would spend the next 9 years in Albuquerque. Nancy and the kids settled into the community and school, where many lifelong friendships were made. Larry continued to spend the bulk of his time on the road directing the advance Crusade preparations for a long list of cities around the globe. Highlights of his work and travels in these years include Southern California, Florida, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Germany, and the USSR to name only a few.

In 1988 Larry was asked to move to Asheville to work with the Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove. But even the responsibilities of the Cove couldn’t keep Larry in one place long. Larry soon returned to Crusade preparations, and continued to travel the globe, delivering years of successful events. Larry particularly enjoyed time working on crusades in South America and Latin America. In 1998, Larry assumed responsibility for all event ministry while mentoring the rising generation of directors and field teams within the organization. He continued this oversight until retiring from the BGEA in 2004.

His family is grateful for the last 20 years enjoying his close presence and support after so many years of his international ministry. He seemed comfortable at home in Fairview preparing wonderful dinners, mowing the lawn, participating fully at Fairview Christian Fellowship, visiting and encouraging his local friends and caring for his children and grandchildren . For years, Larry volunteered to prepare and serve the Men's Weekly Prayer Breakfast at FCF. He gave these breakfasts his full attention, and considered each relationship he made there the highest value. He also faithfully participated in the Heart Path Fitness Program for well over a decade. As a growing family, that now includes eight grandchildren, we share many peaceful and joyful memories of fishing trips, baseball games, picnics and holidays in beloved Sun Valley, Idaho as well as the beach. We are so grateful.

Larry enjoyed meeting new friends wherever he went. From a very young age, he learned to speak Swedish as well as English. This fostered his lifelong love of languages. He studied Latin, Russian, Norwegian, Spanish and German as well as biblical Hebrew and Greek. Larry enjoyed geography and culture in his travels. He was able to connect and unite with people everywhere with warmth & infectious humanity. If he had it within his power to encourage someone, or ease their burden with a smile, a greeting, a joke, a gift or a prayer, he did so.

After a career spent cultivating the largest of audiences, his later years show us the power of sharing God’s Love one relationship at a time. We give thanks for the blessing of his example in this and in everything, and we honor his memory as we celebrate together the life that he lived. 

Larry was preceded in death by his grandparents, his parents Siri and Irving Turner, Irving's second wife Nancy, and Larry’s mother and father in-law, Jack & Verna Morgan.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Nancy Jean Turner, their three children, their spouses & children:

◦ Corey Morgan Turner (Karen) of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina with Corey Morgan Turner II, Anna Rowan Turner, and Anders Larson Turner.

◦ Kimberley Joy Turner Hall (Ben) of Fairview, North Carolina with Socorro Grace Turner, Lucia Claire Nancy Hall and Zevariah Lars Benjamin Hall.

◦ Jonathan Daniel Turner (Wendy Punshon) of Asheville, NC  with Jack Ketchum Turner and Ivy Louise Turner.

◦ Also Larry's Sister, "Cotton" Kathleen Joy Pauly (Steve) of Portland, Oregon. Nephew Kent & Kathy Pauly (Lucas, Justine and Lena), and Nephew Eric & Shannan Pauly (Noka)

◦ His Sister in Law, Carole Ann Morgan. Brother in Law, Tom E and Amanda Morgan. Nephew Brian Morgan (Samantha and Sarah) ...all of Idaho and Niece Mali & Mike Cole of Texas

◦ Aunt Donna Herron (nee Morgan) and her children and grandchildren...all of the Chicago area 

Cousins Judy Wood of Washington and Bob Wood of Oregon

◦ Cousins Don and Jeanne Kretz and family, Doug and Jeri Kretz and family, and Sue Kretz...all of Washington state

Cousins Jim and Elena Hermanson and family, the family of Laurel Hermanson...all of California 

◦ Many cherished cousins throughout the country on the Morgan side of the family, and the vibrant family remaining in ancestral Sweden.

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