Luretta Ruth Turnbull, the daughter of Clay Miller and Lu Retta (Gore) Kemerling, was born August 8, 1918, in Tarkio, Missouri. She attended Tarkio High School, graduating in 1936. She attended Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in History in 1985.

On July 22, 1939, Luretta was united in marriage to Billy O. Brunk. They made their home in Tarkio and became the parents of two children, Billy Dale and Linda. Billy was killed in active duty combat on April 26, 1945, while serving in World War II. On October 5, 1947, Luretta was united in marriage to John C. Turnbull. They made their home in Tarkio their entire married life and became the parents of two children, Rebecca and Tim.

Luretta was employed as the accountant for all of the family’s businesses. She was a member of the Tarkio Presbyterian Church and Presbyterian Women, Allen-Schiffern American Legion Auxilliary, Merry Widows Club, Lone Star and Morning Sun Club, Democratic Central Committee, Community Betterment, Sorosis, Committee for Aging, Tarkio Rough Riders and received honors for Citizen of the Year for the City of Tarkio. John passed away October 31, 1980. Luretta passed away Friday, December 13, 2013, at her home in Tarkio at the age of 95.

Besides her parents and husbands, Luretta was preceded in death by siblings, Cecil Corbin, Pearl Harbison, Donald Kemerling, Myrle Kemerling, Eunice Hurst, Kenneth Kemerling and William E. Kemerling. Survivors include children, Billy Dale Brunk and wife, Faye, Locust Grove, Oklahoma, Linda Brunk Smith and husband, Harlan, Kansas City, Missouri, , Rebecca Turnbull and husband, Lonnie Nixon, Longmont, Colorado, and Tim Turnbull, Tarkio; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews and “daughters-in-spirit”, Susan Gardner, Tucson, Arizona and Marilyn M. Hicks, Tarkio, Missouri.

Funeral Service:
10:30 A.M., Monday, December 16, 2013, Tarkio Presbyterian Church, Tarkio.
Interment: Home Cemetery, Tarkio.
The family will receive friends from 9:30-10:30 A.M., Monday, prior to the service, at Tarkio Presbyterian Church.
Memorials: Tarkio Presbyterian Church or World Vision International.
Online obituaries and condolences at www.minterfuneralchapels.com
Services are under the direction of Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio.