Donald "Butch" Turner

1942 - 2021

Donald "Butch" Turner
September 2, 1942 - May 12, 2021
Fresno, California - On May 12, 2021, we lost one of our local legends. Donald A. Turner was born at Merced Hospital on September 2, 1942, and even before his parents could bring him home to Mariposa, he had been nicknamed Butch. Donald and Bernice Turner had been trying to have children for 10 years when they had baby Butch. Bernice was the only daughter of the local Sheriff, John Castagnetto, and his wife Alta. The family had long been part of the small gold rush community known for great hunting and fishing. His parents later moved to Fresno, but he was raised loving the outdoors and collecting guns and fishing poles. He was gifted with a natural charm and raised with an impressive work ethic, both of which he put to great use when he got his father to agree to go in half on a burgundy 1956 Chevy convertible with white tuck and roll interior. He was a popular fixture at Rancho Drive-In during his Fresno High years. He graduated in 1960 and started Fresno City College. Later that year while vacationing in Santa Cruz, Butch met Jacqueline McCoy, the young woman he immediately knew would be his wife. In March of 1961, Butch lost his father, who was his best friend and hunting partner, to a heart attack.
On August 12, 1961, 18-year-old Butch and 16-year-old Jacque eloped and started their journey together which would last 60 years and impact so many lives. Their first daughter Rene' was born in 1963 and son John was born in 1965. Butch started as an investigator with Appleby and Co, and at age 28 started Don Turner & Associates which would later become Turner Security Systems. His business and love for hunting and fishing brought him in contact with most of Fresno. His bright blue eyes, knowing smile and gift for story telling made him a local favorite and his business thrived. By the time their children were in junior high, Butch was able to use their financial success to help others. It was not some decision he made to spend his income on others, it was just who he was. If he was renting a house in Santa Cruz, skiing at China Peak or going out hunting, he always hosted others. In fact, it seemed making sure others had good equipment, good food and a good time was the whole point of the trip.
As his children graduated from college, Butch transferred over most of the business responsibilities for what had become one of the valley's largest locally owned businesses to his son John. With the business continuing to grow, Butch had the time to hunt and fish, and like everything else he did, it was epic. He enjoyed many hunting safaris to Africa with his son and eventually even his grandchildren. The safari stories are endless and include charging rhinos, saving his son from a leopard attack, and sharing a lion trophy with his son. Each trip included gifting to the guides and locals, something which became a part of his legend and legacy.
Butch Turner's generosity was a part of who he was. It was how he communicated his love for others. He was uniquely generous with his time and treasure. He never cut a conversation short. He never visited someone empty handed. He was known for gifting bottles of wine, fresh produce, steaks, seafood, gourmet dog treats, an amazing flower arrangement or boxes of hard-to-find pastries. Right up until his passing he was giving instructions on where to send gifts. Giving to others was the source of his joy. As if from an ancient culture, he actually seemed to take offense to someone refusing one of his offerings.
Butch was an unbelievably supportive and proud parent, and it was inspiring to watch that unconditional love given to his to his grandchildren. He taught them lessons about never giving up that made each of them uniquely prepared for life. He passed on his love for guns, hunting and fishing to those who shared his passion. For those who did not, he learned to love what they love.
In 2008 Butch and Jacque started the Santa Cruz chapter in their lives. With rooms dedicated for their children and grandchildren, a surf shack with more than a dozen surfboards and wet suits, an assortment of bikes, skim boards and skateboards, a fire pit with a cupboard dedicated to smore ingredients, a pantry stocked with the finest goodies and a freezer full of ice cream, this soon became the place where family and friends gathered to relax and spend time together. He created a vacation oasis that hosted legendary 4th of July parties and where the house was always full. He was often on his way to the store, and he wanted to know what you wanted. We all soon learned, even if we did not need anything, he was happiest when we gave him something to put on his list. His generosity was no myth. It was our blessed reality.
On May 12, 2021, after a short battle with cancer, Butch passed away at their home in Santa Cruz. He was surrounded by family. In a few months Butch and Jacque would have celebrated 60 years together. They raised one another, and we all think they did a great job. In their marriage they were fiercely loyal to one another and together they were a solid foundation for their family. Their family included many friends of their children. It also included their Golden Retrievers, Blazer and more recently Cody. Papa Butch loved dogs. Dogs loved Papa Butch. He was a bit of a dog whisperer, but it may have also had something to do with the fact he always had dog treats in his pockets
Donald "Butch" Turner is survived by his wife Jacqueline Turner; daughter Rene' Sample and her husband Scott and their two children Scotty Sample (wife Haley, children Tayla, Acelyn and Crue of Fresno, CA) and Shay Yarborough (husband Billy, children Haley, Will and Allie of Wilmington, NC); and son John A. Turner (children Hunter, Tania, Marco; fiancé Alex Delgado and children Freddie and Mia). He was preceded in death by his parents and was comforted in his faith knowing he was to be reunited with them. In lieu of flowers, spend some extra time in conversation with someone you meet, invite a friend to join your family for an outing, or leave a small gift on a neighbor's doorstep. Papa Butch would like that. The Memorial Service for Donald ""Butch"" Turner will be Thursday May 27, 2021 at 10am at New Covenant Community Church located at 1744 E. Nees Ave., Fresno, CA. Doors open at 9am to greet the family. There will be coffee and pastries. Or to attend by Zoom go to https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89395819709?pwd=cHQ3S240am9SOU9JTGMxM0F4RHlTQT09. Meeting ID: 893 9581 9709 Passcode: 052721