Richard K. Turner

Bethany, MO: Richard K Turner was born on April 22, 1924 on his farm near Mount Moriah and
passed away on November 7, 2023 at the age of 99 years.
Richard grew up on the farm that he worked with his father, graduated from Mount Moriah
High School in 1942 and attended Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville.
He went to work for the U.S. Soil Conservation Service which took him to Ohio for training
and made for a lifetime of stories about the train ride there and back. He worked for the
government out of Gallatin, Missouri where he met J.C. Penney, who convinced him to go into
the clothing business and work for him. Richard worked for JC Penney in Bethany before going
to work for Preach Thompson at Thomson’s Mens Wear, which was the predecessor to
Richard’s Mens Wear which he took over in the 1960’s. Richard worked in the clothing business
over seven different decades  in Bethany and was still working almost full time at the age of 92.
Richard was a long time member of First Baptist Church of Bethany where he served as a
deacon, Sunday School Superintendent, in the Brotherhood Fellowship and on several pastor
search committees.
Richard met his future wife, Dorthy, during a Sunday School Retreat at Windermere Baptist
Assembly and they were married on May 22, 1971 in Dorthy’s hometown of Evansville, Indiana.
Richard and Dorthy had three children, one whom died before birth.  They were blessed
with three grandchildren, all of whom Richard was able to see graduate from high school
despite being close to 50 before he began his family.
Richard was a longtime caretaker for his mother, Grace, after his father, Frankie, passed
away. He and Dorthy included Grace and Dorthy’s sister, Mary Anna, in all their activities.
Richard was active in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; served as a trustee of Miriam
Cemetery; as a Bethany City Councilman; in the Bethany Chamber of Commerce and was one of
the last surviving members of the “Southside Mafia” (a group of retail store owners on the
south side of the Bethany square).
Richard loved to tell stories about growing up along Trail Creek, looking for Jesse James’
stolen treasure, about his horse Dan, about his dog that got kicked in the head by his horse and
survived, and meeting Babe Adams who came back to Mount Moriah and played baseball with
the kids.
Richard is predeceased by Dorthy, his wife of 50 years, one child born before birth; and his
parents, Grace and Frankie Turner. He is survived by his daughter Kathy (Eric) Sweat and son
Rick Turner; granddaughter Morganne (Peyton) Spurling; and grandsons Andrew and Luke
Sweat, all of Bethany.
Richard served his Lord faithfully for over 90 years and joked that he was so old his family
and friends in Heaven probably thought he didn’t make it. Now Richard has finally made it
home where he able to worship Christ for eternity.
Graveside Services and Burial will be held at 2:30 p.m. Friday, November 10 in Miriam
Cemetery, Bethany, MO under the direction of Roberson Funeral Home, Bethany, MO. The

family will receive friends from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Friday at the First Baptist Church, Bethany, MO.
Memorials may be made to the Richard Turner Memorial Fund for improvement at Crestview
Nursing Home in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 46, Bethany, MO 64424. Online
condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com