Jack Y. Turnage

Jack Y. Turnage peacefully departed this life surrounded by his wife of 48 years and three daughters on June 27, 2005 in Portland, Texas at the age of 73 after a chronic illness. He was born September 19, 1931 in Tullos, Louisiana to William Franklin and Pearlie Sprouse Turnage. Jack and his family moved to Portland, Texas in 1976. He served his country in the Air Force during the Korean War in French Morocco Africa. He was very patriotic and proudly flew the American flag at his home in Portland and his place on Lake Corpus Christi. Jack started in the oilfield as a roughneck, driller and tool pusher from 1954 to 1965 in Texas, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, French Ivory Coast Africa, Tierra del Fuego Argentina, and Colombia South America. From 1965-1969 he worked as a Fishing Tool Operator in Venezuela and as a Tool-Pusher in Angola, South Africa and Egypt. From 1968-1975 Jack worked in Venezuela as a Fishing Tool Operator and Supervisor. In 1972 he formed a company called Davis Oil Tools in Venezuela acting as the General Manager. After selling stock in his company, he and his family moved to Texas. From 1976-1978, Jack worked as a Drilling Consultant for Rubsamen, Inc. and R.C. Hagens in Corpus Christi. From 1979-1984, Jack worked as an Independent Drilling Consultant and Superintendent in Egypt, Gulf of Suez and The North Sea on Drill-Ships and Jack-Up Rigs, in Guatemala and the Gulf of Mexico. From 1985-1989 he worked as Drilling Consultant for Rodolph Engineers in the Gulf of Mexico, Craddock Engineers in Egypt, and Independent Consultant for Union Pacific Resources in Louisiana. In 1990-9195, he worked in Indonesia as an Independent Drilling Consultant for Maxus Energy and Trend - Santa Fe Energy Resources, in 1994; he broke a world record drilling 43, 363 feet in over seven wells with one PPC bit. This company wrote of him saying "The fact that we have continued to draw on Jack's experience over the past 5 years despite the availability of competing consulting services is testament to the expertise and quality of his dedicated service that he has provided. His experience with exceedingly difficult deep high pressure wells, severe well problems, his fishing expertise and overall well site management skills have been a great asset to our continuous activities." From 1996-1998, he worked as drilling consultant for Union Pacific Resources in Louisiana. He retired April 20, 1998. Jack is survived by his sister, Ruby Griffin of Shreveport, Louisiana; brother, William Turnage of Odessa, Texas; five nieces and nephews, Wife Eleonora (Ellie), daughters Lorraine Louise, Teresa Marie, and Jacqueline Eleonora, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandson.Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Friday, July 1, 2005 with family present at Limbaugh Funeral Home, Portland, TX. Funeral Services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 2, 2005 at Limbaugh Funeral Home and interment at Seaside Memorial Park.