He was born in San Angelo, Texas on February 6, 1927, the tenth of eleven children.
A.J. attended San Angelo Central High School and San Angelo College.
During his high school years, A.J. and his mother helped in the war effort by working in the Portland, Oregon shipyards. While there, he decided to enlist in the Merchant Marines, and did so at the young age of 17. An accident onboard ship resulted in months of hospitalization and A.J. was honorably discharged.
Upon returning home to San Angelo, he started working for the Singer Sewing Machine Company at 19 years of age, eventually moving to Dallas to work for the company there. As an auditor, he was sent to many stores including one in Ft. Worth where Anna Faye Jenkins worked as a bookkeeper and taught the sewing classes. After a one year courtship, they were married in Godley, Texas on June 4, 1950, living happily ever after for almost 70 years. After retiring from Singer at the age of 55, he and Ann purchased Northtown Sewing Center, working side by side with their daughter, Beverly until it’s sale in 1990.
After retiring, A.J. worked extensively with the Texas Baptist Men in such areas as Disaster Relief, World Changers and Baptist Builders, traveling all over the world. He volunteered at the Billy Graham crusades, Promise Keepers and for many other Christian organizational events.
He was an active member of Lake Highlands Baptist Church from 1967 until his death. His church friends were like family to him and he served in many capacities over the years. He was…..
…Chairman of the Deacons,
…on the Finance Committee,
…directed and taught Sunday School,
…sang in the Joy choir,
…coached girls softball,
…on the pastor search committee,
…helped renovate the current Family Life Center
He is survived by his…
-wife of 69 years, Ann
Three daughters…
-Betty May and husband Phillip
-Barbara Johnson and husband Vic
and
-Beverly Turn
Ten grandchildren….
-April May Buchschacher and husband John
-Phillip May and wife Christy
-Andrew Johnson and wife Carly
-Kara Johnson LaPenna and husband Vinny
-Peter May and wife Audrey
-Adam Johnson and wife Kristen
-Amber May Leahy and husband Joby
-Hannah Faye Allred and husband Patrick
-Bryn May
and
-Kennah Foster
Fourteen great-grandchildren….
-Keaton & Dylan May,
-Savannah, Loralei, London & Scarlett Buchschacher,
-Hartwin & Roen Johnson,
-Leo, Jesse & Georgia Anna LaPenna,
-Henry Allred,
-Kesiah & Raphael May.
A.J. was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Lillie Turn, as well as all ten of his brothers and sisters, several nieces and nephews and one grandson.
The family is receiving visitors at Sparkman-Crane Funeral Home in Dallas on Tuesday evening, February 18, 2020 from 6:00pm-8:00pm. Celebration of Life is at Lake Highlands Baptist Church on Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at 10:00am.
