John Henry Turner

Westport, MA - John Henry Turner, 59, of 578 River Road, Westport, MA, formerly of 62 Halsey Street, Newport, died Sunday, November 26, 2006 at home.He was the husband of Janet Meader Turner. Born in Newport, RI, on April 19, 1947, he was the son of the late Thomas Marshall and Jean Wagner Turner DeYoung, and step son of the late Sybil Tripp Turner.Mr. Turner was a Graduate of the University of Rhode Island, where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree, Class of 1970, and also a Graduate of Rogers High School, Class of 1966. Mr. Turner was the owner and operator of Eastern Passage Marine, where he was involved in marine design and installation of systems including mechanical, refrigeration, electric, plumbing for small and large sailing and power yachts. He also specialized in the restoration of antique and classic yachts. He had also worked for Williams and Manchester Shipyard as a mechanic and advanced foreman from 1976 to 1983. From 1971 to 1976, Mr. Turner had worked at Electric Boat in Quonset as a quality assurance inspector. Mr. Turner had received his ABYC certification for marine electrical workmanship. He was also a USCG licensed Captain, a certified scuba diver, and had received his certificate for the completion for 400 hours of machinist school for the State of Rhode Island. He was a member of the American Schooner Association and the Goat Island Yacht Club. Mr. Turner was a seasoned sailor having sailed to the Carribean many times, and known quite well as he worked in the Newport Harbor area. For many years he and his wife lived aboard a schooner that he built in 1983 and they traveled the Intercoastal Waterway along the Eastern Coast of the US and spent numerous winters in the Bahamas. Mr. Turner was an avid fisherman and motorcyclist. Besides his wife, he is survived by a son Daniel Patrick Turner of College Park, MD, three brothers Thomas Turner of Bellevue, NE, Peter Turner of Holland, PA, and Edwin Turner of Port Monmoth, NJ, a sister Marsha Skarka of Tiverton, RI, several nieces and nephews, and several great nieces and great nephews.A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 2, 2006, at 11:00 a.m. in the Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Road, Portsmouth.Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care, 502 Bedford Street, Fall River, MA, 02720.