Reginald "Reg" Clifford Turner

Reginald "Reg" Clifford Turner, BA, BEd, passed away peacefully on September 25, 2016, at Valley Regional Hospital, Kentville. He was born at home in Steam Mill to George and Eva (MacInnis) Turner. Reg attended Steam Mill School and Kings County Academy in Kentville.  He went on to study at Acadia University, and, following in the footsteps of his mother, became a school teacher. Reg began his 40+ year career in education at Central Kings Rural High School in 1952, and was Principal at Aldershot Elementary School from 1961 to 1979. In 1980, he returned to classroom teaching at CKRHS, from where he retired in 1992. He remembered with fondness his years in the teaching profession. He encouraged children to set and achieve high expectations for themselves regardless of their circumstances. Many of his former students credited him with getting them through school. Reg was very active in community life. In his younger years, he was an avid sportsman, spending many hours on baseball fields and in hockey arenas. He played with the Acadia Junior Hockey Club, Kentville Wildcats, and Annapolis Tigers, as well as on ball teams in Terrace Bay, ON, where he worked summers in university. Reg met the love of his life Eileen at the Kentville rink, and, following their marriage, continued to be involved in sport as a coach and President of the Kentville Minor Hockey Association.  He was a Masonic Lodge member for over 25 years, served on the Board of Family and Children’s Services of Kings County, and was an Allied Youth Leader. Reg loved music and singing. He was a promoter of choirs at Aldershot School, President of the Kings County Music Festival, and belonged for many years to the Dukes of Kent Barbershop Ensemble. He was proud of his heritage, and never tired of walking the land where he grew up and the surrounding community. Reg’s most important achievement was his family. He cherished his wife, and she and their three sons were always his highest priority. Reg is survived by his brother Ken Turner, Terrace Bay, ON; sister-in-law Katherine Turner, Aldershot; his wife of nearly 60 years, J. Eileen (MacKay); his children, George (Karen) Turner, New Minas; Michael "Mike" (Tracie) Turner, Steam Mill; and Geoffrey "Geof" (Sherri) Turner, Steam Mill; grandchildren Chelsea and Courtney Turner; Isaac and Noah Turner; Jenna Jackson and Rachel Turner; and many nieces and nephews. Reg was predeceased by his parents; brothers, Don and Ralph, sister, Jean Wilson, brother-in-law James Wilson, and sister-in-law Bette Turner. The funeral service, followed by a reception, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 1, 2016, at White Family Funeral Home, Kentville, Reverend Murray Shaw officiating. Family flowers only, please. Donations in memory may be made to the Diabetes Society. A private interment will take place in Elm Grove Cemetery, Steam Mill. Special thanks to  doctor and friend Robert Gunn, who has cared for the entire family for over 30 years, and made countless visits to Reg and Eileen’s home, tending to their medical needs and lifting their spirits with his kindness and many stories. Thanks also to Dr. Mike Sinclair and to the staff of the Emergency Department at Valley Regional Hospital. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Kentville.