The news spread quickly through Jackson on May 11, 1968. Many people did not believe that the news was true. Others knew how weak and sick he had been in the previous months. One version of the story, told by a witness who saw the ambulance pull away from the house on Highland Avenue, said that he died on the way to the hospital.
The last photo was taken of Ervine and Marie R. Turner in 1968.
The story of his death was greatly exaggerated. In fact, Ervine Turner survived the trip to Lexington. Doctors diagnosed a heart attack as the cause of his discomfort. He was admitted to Good Samaritan Hospital, where he was stabilized. Doctors treated Judge Ervine Turner for 12 days, but his condition did not improve. In fact, despite their best efforts, he sank slowly.
Death came for Judge Turner at 12:30 on the afternoon of May 23, 1968. Phone calls from the hospital to the family alerted the community to Turner’s death. The Jackson Times announced his death on the front page of the May 23rd edition.
Ervine Turner Dies At 79
Breathitt County lost one of her most highly regarded citizens at 12:30 p.m. today when Citizens Bank President and former 39th District Circuit Judge Ervine Turner passed away at Good Samaritan Hospital. He had been a patient there since Saturday, May 11 after suffering an apparent heart attack.
Judge Ervine Turner
The distinguished jurist resigned his post last November 22 with two more years remaining of the term to which he was elected in 1963. He had served as District Judge for twenty years.
He was a resident of Jackson and had the distinction of being Breathitt County’s most revered citizen.
Judge Turner, 79, was born and reared in the Crockettsville community of this county.
For most of his life, Judge Turner’s influence in Democratic Party affairs had been felt, not only at the local level, but in state and national councils.
He became President of Citizens Bank of Jackson at its formation in 1962, a position he was holding at time of his death.
Judge Turner had spent a lifetime in politics and had served as State Senator and Chief Clerk of the Kentucky Court of Appeals. He was also Breathitt County Superintendent of Schools for several years.
His body was brought to Breathitt Funeral Home this afternoon. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time.
In addition to his wife, Mrs. Marie R. Turner, he is survived by two daughters, Miss Lois Turner, at home; Mrs. Treva T. Howell, Jackson; and a son, State Senator John Raymond Turner, Jackson, several other sisters, nieces, nephews and grandchildren.
The Jackson Times, May 23, 1968, page 1
Thousands of mourners from across the country paid their respects to Judge Turner. The Jackson Times estimated that 1,500 filed past the casket at the Jackson Christian Church during his visitation.
The Lexington Herald printed an editorial about the life of Ervine Turner on page 4 of its May 27, 1968 edition.
The family moved the services to the Breathitt High School Coliseum to accommodate the anticipated crowd for the final services. The funeral was conducted by Rev. Samuel Vandermeer and Rev. William Delaney at the Coliseum on Sunday, May 26.
He was buried that afternoon in the Jackson Cemetery.
Marie Roberts Turner continued her involvement in the Breathitt County Schools and local politics. She died in 1984 and was buried beside her husband.
Bookie on the Trail 