In Memoriam: Ewing Thurman Turner

Ewing Thurman Turner

Ewing passed away peacefully at his home in Scottsdale, AZ on April 1, 2020; he was 90 years old.

Ewing Turner was born on June 28, 1929 in West Plains, MO and was raised in Long Beach CA. Though Ewing was an only child, he had several first aunts and uncles, along with cousins.

Ewing was born into a depression-era family to his father, Everett and his mother, Lillian. The Turners were of very modest means and young Ewing was restless at a very early age. He was an excellent student, athlete and woodworking craftsman. Ewing attended Long Beach Poly where he was outstanding in football, basketball and track (sprinter). His true love was playing baseball. Ewing was an All-CIF catcher at Long Beach Poly and had full ride scholarship offers to both USC and the University of Arizona. Ewing bypassed college to play professional baseball. He was signed by Hall of Famer Branch Rickey of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.

In the summer of 1949 at the age of 20, he met the love of his life, Geraldine Michelick. A whirlwind romance ensued and one year later they were married and the Turners were on a fast track to the big leagues. However, when they arrived home from their honeymoon on September 30, 1950, Ewing was drafted into the U.S. Army to serve on the front lines in the Korean War. Faith, hope and prayers brought Sergeant Turner back in 1952 and he resumed his career with the Dodgers. Ewing and Gerrie traveled the country in pursuit of their dreams including stops in Vero Beach FL, Ponca City OK, Pueblo CO, Mobile AL and many other places in between. In 1955, Ewing and Gerrie, with a toddler and another baby on the way, decided to retire from baseball to move back to Long Beach.

With his baseball bonus money, Ewing bought Curley’s Café in Signal Hill, which is still operating as it has since 1932. The Turners settled into a small home in Signal Hill. After one more move to Long Beach, they eventually purchased their dream home in 1960 on Rowena Drive in Rossmoor, CA.

With four children to raise, Ewing became the ultimate super dad and helped construct the St. Hedwig’s Little League fields in Rossmoor and became a mentor and coach to many young dads who had never played or coached baseball.

Ewing and Gerrie also expanded their business ventures into other businesses: Turfside Liquor in Cypress, Automotive Salvage Yards–Admore and Allco Auto Wrecking and Signal Savings & Loan. Ewing also became a Steering Committee Member of the Long Beach Second Guessers Professional Baseball Players Association of America and served as President (and Lifetime Honorary Member) of the Signal Hill Police Officers Association, a philanthropic organization, from 1978-80.

Ewing’s work ethic on the baseball diamond, in the community or running his businesses, was unrivaled. He was routinely out the door at 4:30 a.m. and home by 7:00 p.m. He loved running Curley’s. He always said he had the ”best customers in the world” and he treated them like family. Great food, world famous chili and a stiff drink was their brand. The restaurant had no menu ever and served daily blue plate specials prepared by his Aunt Ruth.

His check-cashing business and service to the oilfield roustabouts was legendary. The locals knew it took some gumption to run Curley’s (an occasional argument and bare-knuckled brawl might ensue over a lost wager), but Ewing was there to restore order. A friend to all, enemy to none, Ewing also served as the official lender to those in need. For 35 years, on a handshake, Ewing was there for his customers covering payroll or issuing credit when times were tough in the oilfields. For 35 years, as a salute to his customers, Ewing organized an annual dove hunting trip for the Signal Hill Curley’s crew to Gila Bend, Arizona. Ewing was known as the unofficial mayor of Gila Bend over the Labor Day Weekend. He would rent out the entire Space Age and Payless Motels. He was legendary for his sharpshooting skills and hollering “my bird “ before his epic opening night dove feed.

Ewing and Gerrie became avid golfers in the early 1970s and convinced several other neighborhood couples to join Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach. Known as the “Hic and Hackers,” Gerrie and Ewing organized many golf trips over the years and traveled with their friends to Hawaii, Palm Springs, Ojai, San Diego and Las Vegas for memorable golf outings. From 1975 to 1984, Ewing was the weekend chef to many of the Turner kids’ friends. “You are always welcome to stay for dinner,” our dad would say. And eat they would! He fed half of the Los Al Griffin football team over a 10-year span from 1969 to 1979. Filet mignon and lobster were always on the menu and grilled to order.

Mom and Dad were always up for a celebration and party-planning was their specialty. Birthdays, graduations, costume parties, Rose Bowls, Super Bowls and the Turner’s famous Curley’s chili “joke” parties were among the most popular parties, but their favorite party was a Cocktail Party!

Family vacations were a big priority for Ewing and Gerrie. From Donner Lake, Mammoth, Hawaii, Bass Lake, trips to Colorado, Mexico, Canada, Lake Arrowhead and finally a “cabin” — the ‘Hillbilly Hilton’ in Canyon Lake.

After the kids went off to college, Gerrie and Ewing traveled extensively for many years throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe with many of their closest friends.

Ewing and Gerrie sold their Rossmoor home in 1995 and moved to Canyon Lake to set up shop for the next nine years on their 13th tee box home at Canyon Lake Country Club. In 2004, Gerrie and Ewing were on the move again to Phoenix to settle into their sunset years. Mom and Dad loved their Arizona sunsets in the Sonoran Desert.

Ewing is now at home, resting in peace with the Lord with his beloved wife, and the many dogs they raised, including their especially cute “Cupcake” who passed on the same day as Ewing. As parents, they always said, “dogs go to heaven, too.”

Ewing is survived by his daughters, Dr. Pamelee Turner Santesteban of Scottsdale, AZ, Jana Lynn Turner of Newport Beach, his sons, Kerry Ewing Turner and daughter-in-law Alicia of Rossmoor, Kevin Michael Turner and daughter-in-law Perrin of Coto De Caza, grandchildren Austin Fairbourn, Ashley Turner, Patrick, Riley and Lily Turner, grandson-in-law Charlie and great-granddaughters, Turner Marie and Jennings James Fairbourn.

He is also survived by his third adoptive son, Robert Harrison Bowles, of Denver and his wife Lynn and their four children.

In lieu of flowers, Ewing is being honored with donations to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/donate). Ewing’s life was celebrated with military honors, an intimate family Catholic funeral mass in Scottsdale on Saturday, April 4, 2020 with internment at Holy Redeemer Cemetery in Phoenix.