Written by his daughter
Helen Turner Stone, August 1985
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Joseph Paul Turner was born in Montrose Colorado October 9, 1891 to Frank Porter Turner and Jennie Mummert. His father was employed by the United States Postal Service, as a rural mail carrier. He carried mail by horse and buggy or sleigh for 30 years. He also enjoyed horse and cart racing. Paul's mother was trained as a school teacher and tutored children in their home. Paul was an only child. He never knew his grandparents as they lived in the east.
Paul had a normal childhood. He attended school in Montrose. Upon graduation he attended Ross Business College in Grand Junction, Colorado.
He was a healthy and robust boy. His only serious illness while growing up was a bout with typhoid fever. His last illness was a ruptured appendix which resulted in his death.
He was his mother's price and joy and she watched over him like a mother hen. He was probably the only thing of value in her life.
When he got into high school he would spend his summer vacations working for his uncle John M. Cunningham on his ranch in La Sal, Utah. There was a young girl from Ferron, Utah who came to the ranch to work during her vacation time. They spent a lot of evenings together and their friendship developed into love and respect for each other and on December 8, 1914 he married Mary Larsen.
They lived the first years of their married lives on a homestead in the east side of La Sal. Paul worked hard to clear the land, he also worked part time helping to build a road to Dove Creek, Colorado. He and Mary enjoyed riding their horses and being together in this remote area.
They would spend their winters in Montrose. In the fall they would get into their wagon with their personal things and travel a rough dirt trail to Montrose. Then back to the homestead in the spring.
I, Helen, was born in Montrose on the 30th of May 1917. When mother was well enough Dad took her and me (being three weeks old) back to the homestead. After a few years Paul got a chance to sell out, so they all moved back to Montrose and leased a farm a few miles west of town.
While living there, a second daughter, Alice, arrived on the 30th of July 1921. While living on the farm, Dad worked part time clerking at Mullins Grocery Store. Farming only gave us a bare existence, so when an opening came open for a janitor's job at the Post Office Paul took it with the promise of an advancement as soon as there was an opening. It was only a short time until his father retired and Paul was given the position of rural mail carrier on the same rout #4 which his father had. He kept this job until his death.
He was proud of his cars and on his days off, he would service them and wash them so they were always in top shape. He thought that the Pontiac was the best car on the road.
During the next few years two boys were born, Frank in May 1924 and five years later, Don was born in August.
Dad enjoyed his family, he would take them on picnics, fishing, and vacation trips. We always went to Ferron during vacation time. We even went to Yellowstone Park one time. He was the most kind, and thoughtful and loving father a person could have.
I remember him spanking me only once. Mother took care of all the rest of the spankings. He loved to go to the picture shows and we went two or three times a week. I think his kids inherited that trait from him. Dad never lived to see his children grown and married. I know he would have been the best granddad a kid could have. He took sick on the 5th of October 1935 and passed away on the 8th of October. Just one day before his 44th birthday.
The Turner family was respected and well liked throughout the whole area. It was shown by the large number that came to the funeral.
He was buried at Montrose, Colorado the the Cedar Cemetery next to his father and mother.
A point of interest is the ranch where Paul and Mary met and fell in love was the same ranch several years prior where Paul's mother and father met and fell in love.
