Michael Harold Turner

by Lynn McMillen
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Michael Harold Turner (57), a resident of Harvest, Alabama passed away suddenly on December 6, 2024, at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, following a short battle with Leukemia. Michael was a loving husband, father, and friend. A celebration of Michael’s life will be held at 2:00pm at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 1418 Old Railroad Bed Road Madison, AL 35757 on January 10, 2025.

Born in Andalusia, Alabama on June 19, 1967, Michael grew up in McKenzie, Alabama before moving to Montgomery, Alabama. He graduated from Jefferson Davis High School in 1985. He attended the University of Alabama where he obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering. He met his loving wife, Beth, in Tuscaloosa thanks to her and his best friend living at the same apartment complex. After graduating with his master’s, Michael went to work for the US Army at what would become the Aviation and Missile Center. He spent his entire career supporting the US Army.

Michael was a true American patriot. He loved this country and dedicated his professional life to supporting the warfighters. He began working in Guidance, Navigation, and Control on the science & technology program that would produce the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) that is still in use today. He continued to support GMLRS as it transitioned into production and later fielding. Then, he became the Long-Range Precision Fires Capability Area Lead. He credited himself with the idea for the Precision Strike Missile that is currently beginning production (if this is not true, please do not refute it). He liked to joke that mistakes were made by him and his superiors such that he became the Deputy for Missile Technology, and then further mistakes were made, and he became the Principal Deputy for the Technology Development Directorate. He is incredibly well respected by his colleagues worldwide and soldiers are safer today thanks to his work. He spent the last year and a half of his career sitting in the same building with his daughter, who regularly made office visits and held lunch discussions. This was the most special time for Anna and Michael both.

Although Michael was very accomplished in his professional life, nothing meant more to him than his family. He and Beth were happily married in 1989, and never wavered in their commitments to each other. Together they had 2 children, Clay and Anna. He was the dad who coached Baseball, Basketball, and almost any other sport his children were interested in. He somewhat begrudgingly attended many a dance recital and cheerleading event. As a family, we went on many adventures together, whether it be Disney World, New Mexico, Washington DC, New York City, Turks and Caicos, Hawaii, and so many other places. He showed us the world and helped instill a love of experiences.

Michael is preceded in death by his father, Harold Turner. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Haynes Turner, two children, Clay (Kabrina) Turner and Anna (Ben) Werling, his mother, Peggy Turner, his sister, Tina (Barry) Leath, and extended family.

Michael had a love/hate relationship with the Alabama Crimson Tide, mostly hate the past couple years. He was always happy in the outdoors whether it was with their 17 goats, working with his sawmill, or picking persimmons off the tree to feed the dogs he loved so much. He always said what he meant and meant what he said, and his love could be seen by the way he took care of those he loved. In lieu of flowers, we would love for those who are able to donate blood. He regularly donated and received so much during his short hospital stay. We would also request that you drink a Dr. Pepper, eat a Reese’s Cup, and leave an “I love you” for those that you are closest to in a voicemail.

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