Curtiss James Turner departed this life on Saturday, July 21, 2012. Curtiss was born in Vicksburg on April 26, 1920, to Curtis and Jane Turner. He was 92.

Curtiss was a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church in Vicksburg and was baptized at 13 years of age.

Curtiss enlisted in the Marine Corps on Dec. 11, 1941. In 1942, he served in the Pacific Campaign 26 months — Guam, New Caledonia (where he first joined the Raiders) and Bougainville. He rose to the rank of master sergeant. In 1957, he became a Marine Corps recruiter in El Paso, Texas; Farmington, N.M.; and surrounding areas.

During World War II, Curtiss served in the 3rd Raider Battalion in the Pacific Campaign. Curtiss didn’t have a sibling brother; in the Marines he had a true family of brothers. Once a Marine, always a Marine — The Few, the Proud — Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful) even through to the end. He was a member of the Texas Association of Former Marines in Houston, Texas. He was a member of the Marine Corps League in Jackson, Tenn., and Elks Lodge in Texas.

Preceding Curtiss in death were three children, Eddy Fancher of Alabama and Claude Turner and Curtiss Turner Jr., both of Texas; and two sisters, Jane Thornton of El Paso and Nannie Louise Turner of Jackson, Tenn.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Turner; children, William Turner Fancher of Daphne, Ala., Roger Turner of Houston, Texas, Carleton Turner of Fredericksburg, Texas, Susan Amos of Blanco, Texas, and Scott Turner of Elgin, Texas; one niece, Maryjane Grant of El Paso; grandchildren, Aldina Fancher McDonald, April Fancher McDonald, Lori Lee Turner, Dylan Kiss, Ryan Chrastina, Georgia Turner, Brooke Turner, Jessica Gonzales, Matt Winrow, Jonathan Logan Amos, Marshall Turner, Shannon Turner, Savannah Turner, Taylor Vardell and Pat Vardell; and five great-grandchildren.

Military funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 25, 2012, at the Shackelford Funeral Directors-Johnson Chapel, 619 E. Main St., Henderson, Tenn. Kelvin Mercer (hospice chaplain) will be in charge of services. Special music will be provided by Frank Bell. Visitation will be from 5 until 9 tonight, July 24, 2012. Interment will be at Pisgah Cemetery in Henderson.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Research, the Kidney Foundation or the American Heart Association. Curtiss lived passionately and well. He died hard with fortitude and pride. Gung ho and Semper Fi Marine! God bless the 3rd Raiders-USMC! Ooh-rah!

Special thanks to the Marine Corps League, specifically the Jackson and Memphis Detachments. God especially bless you.