Tepee Raden Turman

Tepee Raden Turman, 94 of Durham, NC, passed away on Monday, April 14, 2025. He is preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Lee Eanes Turman.

Tepee is survived by his son, Curtis Lee Turman; brother & sister-in-law, J.D. & Elsie Turman; sister & brother-in-law, June & Jay Staples; and many nieces, nephews and family friends.

He was a simple man who led a simple life, not fancy, no frills. He had a strong belief system of right and wrong, and to some, a gruff exterior, but to those he liked always a smile.

Tepee enjoyed his career of being a heavy equipment operator and truck driver for the Dept. of agriculture for the state of North Carolina. He was proud of his Military service and the accomplishments from his job. Dad was a big Nascar fan, as well as baseball. Diehard Ford fan and pulled for the Yankees, regardless of who was on the team.

He never forgot where he came from, and always considered the mountains home, so it's only fitting that he be laid to rest in amongst family on top of that hill. In the last few years he had started wearing bib overalls on occasion. He would recount that when he was a child, most of the men never wore suits, it was even considered appropriate for church, as long as the overalls were clean, and a clean white shirt was worn with them. I guess he considered it going back to his roots, so that's how he will be dressed for his funeral. A suit and tie would be totally out of character, because I can count on one hand the times I saw him wear one.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 26, 2025 in the Maberry Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Randy Sutphin officiating. Interment will follow in Turman Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. prior to the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of normal pall bearers, I ask that anyone that knew Dad, and had an enjoyable memory...... to carry that in their heart, and let that be the way he is remembered. The last year of his life took its toll, and he was a shell of the person that most knew. I know he would prefer memories of good times instead of sad.