Obituary
Jimmie Lee “Teach” Turner, 78, of Parsons, passed away on Wednesday, April 10th, 2024, at St. Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City, Missouri after a courageous battle with various health issues.
Jimmie was born on April 8, 1946, in Greenville, Mississippi to Oceil and Eli Turner. Jimmie was raised by Oceil Holloway and Anderson Holloway in Greenville where he played several sports and assisted Anderson with his businesses. Jimmie attended and graduated college at Philander Smith in Little Rock, Arkansas and was a proud member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. He was a standout basketball player earning All-Conference and MVP honors while at Philander Smith. While teaching in Parsons schools, he continued his education at Pittsburg State University.
In 1969, a teacher integration program led Jimmie to Parsons, Kansas, to begin his teaching career at Parsons High School. He was a great success in the classroom as well as on the court coaching. He taught several subjects but was best known for his advice to, “Do it right, do it light; do it wrong, do it long”. This made an indelible impression on the countless students he taught and in 1999 was nominated for the Chamber of Commerce Educator of the year award.
Although it was the teacher integration program that brought Jimmie to Parsons, Iris Mae McDaniel was the reason he stayed. They were united in marriage and raised four children. Jimmie enjoyed spending time with family as he loved being a husband and a father. His passions were teaching, coaching, playing basketball and softball recreationally. He met many lifelong friends in Parsons and spent countless hours at Big Hill Lake fishing and boating.
Survivors include:
One son – Kevin McDaniel of Grandview, Missouri.
Two daughters – Leandrea Kay Banzet of Bonner Springs, Kansas
Robyn Hobson (Mark) of Shawnee, Kansas.
Daughter-in-law - Jamie McDaniel of Dennis, Kansas
Bonus son - Al Denton of Parsons, Kansas
15 Grandchildren
Six great-grandchildren
Numerous cousins, aunts, and friends
He was preceded in death by his wife, Iris Mae Turner, on December 18, 2023; his parents, Oceil Holloway, Anderson Holloway, Eli Turner; and his son, Delbert McDaniel.
The funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Hamilton Chapel in Parsons. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Parsons.
Memorials are suggested to the Turner Scholarship Fund. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.
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