John Cleveland Turley III, M.D.

Native Memphian and retired Otolaryngologist John Cleveland Turley, III, M.D. of Houston, Texas, died peacefully surrounded by family on August 12th at the age of 86. John fought a long fight bravely and without complaint, providing a guiding example to all with dignity and courage.

John attended Central High School, Vanderbilt University, and Rhodes College, where he was a Kappa Alpha. Upon graduating from the University of Tennessee Medical School, he served as a Lieutenant Commander in the Public Health Service in Cherokee, NC.

He was on staff at Baptist Memorial, Memphis, TN, where he served as Chairman of the Division of Otolaryngology. He was a past member of the University Club and the Rotary Club of Memphis. He was a communicant and on the vestry of Holy Communion Episcopal Church.

Upon retirement, he spent 27 years traveling all over the world, including seven world cruises with his wife. Some of his favorite memories were from his two weeks he would spend in Switzerland every year and his Sahara Desert Trip in Libya.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Lynn (Gay), his daughter Melissa Koonmen (Charles) of Westhampton New York, his son John Turley IV of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, his step daughters Merrily Calhoun (W.D.) of Houston, Gay Young of St Catherine's Ontario, and his grandchildren, Chloe Schneider (Fred), Devan Koonmen, and Catherine Calhoun.