Rockdale Reporter, Thur., 16 Aug 2007
HEARNE - Claydene Kornegay Turner of Gause, formerly of Houston, died holding the hand of her husband of 64 years, Gilbert Turner, on Monday, Aug. 6, 2007, in Bryan after a brief illness.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, at Gause Baptist Church.
She was born Jan. 6, 1926, in Gause.
Following graduation from Hearne High School in 1942, she married Gilbert Turner, her childhood sweetheart, in 1943.
In January 1946, they moved to Houston, their home for almost 60 years before retiring to their ranch home near Gause.
Mrs. Turner was a member of Second Baptist Church in Houston since 1947 and was responsible for founding and expanding the church library over the next 25 years. She was also instrumental in guiding other churches in establishing their libraries.
Mrs. Turner served on the board of directors at Texas Baptist Children’s Home in Round Rock and was a charter member of the radio and television commission of the Southern Baptist Convention in 1977.
Dedicated to Houston Baptist University from its inception, she was a member of the women’s guild, working to raise funds for teacher scholarships, endowed academic scholarships to the university, donated funds for a room in the Hinton Center for seminars and study groups, and is honored on the Walk of Honor at the university.
Through the Turner Foundation, she and her husband were staunch supporters of Texas A&M University. Among their contributions are endowed scholarships to the 12th Man Foundation, several Sul Ross Corp Scholarships, a Pillar donated at the John Hegler Center and an Enos B. Bill Cape Class of '29 President's Endowed Scholarship.
Mrs. Turner was also a member of the A&M Legacy Society, as well as a past member of the Museum Society of Houston.
She was an avid reader and wrote a book, Pebbles and Stepping Stones, a History of Gause and its Baptist Church from 1893 to 1993. She received a book award for her efforts.
Mrs. Turner was preceded in death by her parents, Clayton and Lillie Belle Bullock Kornegay; a brother, Duane Kornegay; and a grandson, Greg Turner, Jr.
Survivors are her husband, Gilbert Turner; two daughters, Lillian Porter and husband Jim of Little Rock, AR, Suzanne MacNeil Turner of Tallahassee, FL; a son, Greg Turner of Llano; grandchildren Catherine Jones and husband Tim, Alan and Andrew MacNeil and Cameron Turner; great-grandchildren Hunter and Anna Catherine Jones, Damian, Saydie, Darian, Gavin and Connor MacNeil; a sister, Jean Pedersen; a brother, Lewis Korengay of Houston; also, numerous nieces and nephews, and other family members and friends.
Memorials may be made to Children at Heart Ministries, 1301 N. Mays St., Round Rock, TX 78664-2945 or Houston Baptist University, Houston, TX 77074.