Billy Dewayne Turner

Of Melbourne, Arkansas

Billy Dewayne Turner, son of Pamela Howard Turner and the late Larry Dewayne Turner, was born August 4, 1971 in Batesville, Arkansas.  He departed this life Saturday, May 18, 2024 in Little Rock, Arkansas at the age of 52 years 9 months and 14 days. Billy was a very special person not many people saw the good in Billy, but he had a good heart. He was loved by his family and his children. One thing that he loved most in the world was working on the farm with his son Dustin. He was a proud grandfather and a good son and brother. Billy enjoyed farming, fishing, painting and spending time with his wife Sarah and their dog "Brat". Billy was always joking and laughing as a child. He was almost always getting into mischief, but he was always a sweet, caring boy. He will be missed by his family and friends.

Billy is survived by his wife:  Sarah Loosey Turner of Melbourne; his mother Pamela Turner of Jonesboro; his children:  Jacob, Ray Turner of Sevierville Tennessee, Braiden Lane Ramier of Fayetteville, Dustin Turner and wife Taylor of Calico Rock, Cody Remington Turner of Mountain Home, Taya Thompson of Melbourne; two sisters: Tanya Lake and husband Ricky of Imboden and Crystal McEntire and husband Mike of Jonesboro; three beautiful grandchildren: Blaire Haven Turner, Tripp Lane Turner and Casey Hayes Turner; one aunt: Anna Faye, Hopper and one uncle: Eddie Howard, both of Melbourne; several nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and many good friends. He was proceeded in death by his father:  Larry Dwayne Turner; his maternal grandparents: Roman and Wilma Anderson Howard and paternal grandparents: Ernest Cecil Turner and Atha Moore Turner; his uncle:  Billy Ray Howard and his maternal great grandmother: Vesta Faye Hargis Anderson.

Visitation and funeral service will be held Wednesday, May 22 at Eddie's Family Funeral Home in Melbourne, Arkansas.  Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m.   Funeral service will begin at 2:00 p.m. with Steve Stevenson officiating. Burial will follow at Old Philadelphia Cemetery in Larkin.

Pallbearers will be: Matt Rush, Shane Wortham, Hayden Wyatt, Derrick Simmons, Ryan Howard Mat Dellinger.

Honorary Pallbearers:  Anthony Howard, Mike McEntire and Ricky Lake.

Thoughts from Dustin Turner...

My dad was my best friend
Anyone that knows me knows I hadn't been much for words on stuff like this but I'm going to give it a try because I believe that's what he would have wanted me to do…. The lord says thy shall reap what we sow. He called me just a few hours before surgery and told me that he loved me and if he made it through, he was gonna do what he could do get his life straightened out and I believe he tried in every way he knew how many had given up on him but in my 25 years of my life I never gave up. He made me promise that if he couldn't live a life on his feet that I'd pull the plug and let him, and God work it out from there. I'd get as angry as you could be with someone with him more often than not, but it wasn't for hate or mad at him I just seen the best in him, and I knew what he could be because he showed me. It was probably the best summer of his life I know it sure was mine we had on Larry Gillahan's farm, and I was just a young kid but when my dad was at his very best, he was the most hardcore cowboy I ever met, and I just thought it was the coolest thing in this world! If you knew him, you knew his favorite movie was Lonesome Dove and that's about all that's been on the tv since he's passed. But in that movie captain Woodrow made a promise to Gus that he'd bury him back in Texas right after they had just made it to Montana, and it was a real long journey and he goes through a lot of hard times just him and his best friend, but he made him a promise and kept his word which is what I believe a man should do. it took everything captain had to keep that promise but when he  got there and put him in the ground captain Woodrow told him he guessed he'd be more careful about what he promised from then on out and that hit me pretty hard cause I guess if I gonna say anything to dad it would be those exact words… if you knew dad you'd know him and Gus wasn't too much different they could charm anybody and talk their way out of anything or talk their way into something they shouldn't and always find a way to be around the hard work that it involved but they was just there to enjoy the view at the end of the day! And open everyone eyes around them to what it was like to live a life that they would want to live no matter what life through at them. I believe the lord knew my dad had a good heart and the best of intentions and if I could go to heaven to see him today if God allowed it, I guarantee you he's on a farm with his dad working cows on horseback just like I hope I can achieve someday. The measure of a man is not what he can give or do for you but it's how much he can love you and show you that he cares no matter how good or bad life is and I believe my dad loved each and every one of you in his own way rather be a tough love or not.