John Drager Turnbull

1926 - 2009

John Drager Turnbull, 82, passed away at home on Jan. 9, 2009, after a long illness. John was born Oct. 5, 1926, to James and Dorothy Turnbull at Carey, Idaho where his family owned a sheep ranch. John spent many hours on his horse, riding from camp to camp, visiting the hired men who watched the sheep. He attended and graduated from Carey schools. Upon graduation in 1944, he joined the U.S. Navy during WWII. He did his basic training at Farragut Naval Training Center near Coeur d'Alene and served on a seaplane tender, the USS Pine Island in the Pacific. While on the ship, he was a radar operator and traveled around the world before turning 19 years old.
After being discharged from the Navy in 1946, John attended the University of Idaho, where he graduated with a degree in animal husbandry in 1950. He was later certified to teach chemistry, biology, and math.
While at the University, John met his future wife Artylee Parkins on a blind date. They married in Bonners Ferry on Oct. 25, 1947. After graduation, John and Artylee spent the summer and fall at Carey, until John and his dad James Turnbull bought a ranch in the Treasure Valley between Middleton and Star.
In addition to ranching, John began his long career in education by teaching math and science at Meridian High in 1957. Eventually, he received his Masters of Education Administration degree from the College of Idaho. He was vice principal for 8 years and became the first principal of the new Meridian High School in 1975, where he remained until retiring in 1986. During this time he served on the Middleton School Board for one term and on Canyon County Irrigation District for 33 years.
Later in life, John raised and showed quarter horses, and was a member of the American Quarter Horse Association, Idaho Quarter Horse Breeders Association, and the Lower Snake River Valley Association. In 1984, John and Artylee sold the ranch and down-sized by buying their present ranch south of Star.
John is survived by his wife Artylee, married for 61 years; a sister Betty Emerson of Dallas, Texas; four children: John A. (Pam) of Muskogee, Okla., Marsha Klosterman (Dennis) of Florence, Ore., Annette Gleason (Jim) of Cheyenne, Wyo., and Scott R. of Meridian; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
John was preceded in death by his parents James and Dorothy Turnbull, his brother James Turnbull, and his sister Janet Elliott.
The family would like to thank the staff at Accent Hospice for their extraordinary love and compassion, especially Shauna and Jesus, and also Rhonda, who introduced him to this caring group. A special thanks to Dr. Harold Kunz and staff of Nampa, Idaho for caring for his "miracle patient" for many years.
Celebration of life services will be held Saturday, Jan. 17, at 2 p.m. at the Meridian Middle School auditorium, (corner of Cherry Lane and 8th, Meridian,) under the direction of Flahiff Funeral Chapel, Caldwell.
Memorials may be made to the Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Hospital in Boise or a charity of your choice.