James (Jim) Turner died peacefully after slowly declining health on January 5th 2023 in Cornelius, NC surrounded by his loving family. Jim (originally named Ellis Fonzo after his father and maternal grandfather, Alphonzo “Fons”) was born August 2nd 1939 in Valdese, NC to David Ellis Turner and Edith Rae McKinney Turner. He was the second of two other siblings, Patricia Turner Mitchell and Janice Turner Cline. Jim grew up in the Crow Hill community of Valdese and attended Francis Garrou High School, having played high school football, basketball, and baseball all four years. He spoke fondly of his high school football years where he played both defensive and offensive end. He was most proud of being chosen to play in the 1957 East-West Game in Greensboro, NC with Coach Barger where his team won the game. He was voted Defensive Player of the Year before graduating with the Class of 1957. He was equally proud to be awarded a football scholarship from Western Carolina College (now Western Carolina University) where he attended as a first generation college student. He graduated in 1961 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Administration. He never missed an opportunity to tell stories of growing up on Crow Hill where he stated he “always had a job but didn’t make a lot of money”, his high school and college days, the places he worked those summers between college (i.e. the Green Giant Pea Factory in Washington state), and to remind his children that education was very important. “It is the one thing no one can ever take away from you.” He married Revonda L. Chapman in 1962 and over the years the couple lived in Morganton and Spruce Pine, NC, Greenville, SC, and then moved back to Valdese, NC where they lived in the same house from 1972 to 2021. . Jim and Revonda more recently moved to a retirement community in Davidson, NC to be closer to their oldest daughter and her family. Jim worked in personnel at Old Fort Finishing, Fiber Industries, Henredon Furniture, and Drexel Heritage. In his early adult years he enjoyed motorcycling, water skiing, fishing, and badminton with his young family as well as jogging and working out. Jim was well-known for his quick wit, sense of humor, telling stories of his youthful escapades, and the occasional crooning of old songs. He enjoyed trips to the beach and traveling to Florida, Pennsylvania, and New England to visit family. He is predeceased  by his parents and older sister. He is survived by his sister, Janice, his wife, Revonda, his daughter, Jill E. Turner-Mull and husband, Steven Mull, his youngest daughter, Jennifer L. Turner and husband, Todd Nichols, as well as his four grandchildren, Albany Wilson, Morgan Mull, Montana Mull, and Brianna Mull. James requested that there be no formal funeral proceedings after his passing. In lieu of flowers please support and enjoy your local high school and college football teams in his memory. He misses you all.