Dorian "Randy" Randall Turner

Dorian Randall Turner, or Randy to his friends and family, was born on March 24, 1951 in Tulsa, OK, the son of Oddie Purser and Donn William Turner. Randy graduated from Edison High School in Tulsa, OK in 1969 where he played football and was a member of The Barons social club that brought his little-known party animal out of the closet. Randy originally attended the University of Tulsa where he pledged Sigma Chi Fraternity. While most know Randy as a doctor, he worked as a carpenter for many years, having contributed to several large-scale projects in Tulsa, including the Tulsa Surgical Hospital. Randy eventually graduated from Northeastern State University with his bachelor’s degree in psychology. While at Northeastern, he met the love of his life, Catherine Jean Cunningham, while the two worked on a play in the theatre department. On June 28, 1975, he married his wife and best friend, Cathy, on the Illinois River at sunrise. They married after only three months of dating and enjoyed forty years of love and selfless devotion. This union was blessed with three children, Austin, Sarah, and Molly.

In 1985, Randy followed in the footsteps of his older brother, Dr. Donn Roger Turner, D.O., and graduated from Oklahoma State University’s College of Medicine as a doctor of osteopathic medicine. Randy’s career took the family to Maysville and Ada, OK before the family settled in Tahlequah. Over the course of his medical career, Randy delivered hundreds of babies and took care of countless people. His patients loved him dearly, following him from job to job. He was known for taking as much time as he needed to listen to his patients’ concerns and making everyone feel taken care of. From serving as one of the only physicians in rural central Oklahoma, to serving as the Chief of Staff at Tahlequah City Hospital, to working as the medical director of the Wilma P. Mankiller Clinic in Stilwell, OK, the common thread of Randy’s career was his devotion to the human beings he had the privilege of caring for. In addition to his full-time medical career, Randy loved volunteering as a physician on his children’s’ school trips, at the Oklahoma Baha’i School, and with countless patients, family members, and friends whenever they needed care.

While medicine was the primary focus of his life outside of his family and faith, Randy was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing with his children and brother, Randy’s hunting and fishing trips took him from New Mexico to Canada and were some of his most treasured memories and adventures. Randy’s love for animals extended to stray cats and the family’s many pets, including his most recent furry companion, Little Man the Pomeranian. Randy was also a passionate sports fan and loved to root for his favorite teams, the Oklahoma Sooners, and the Dallas Stars. Randy also loved old Western movies, particularly McClintock, as well as Star Wars and Harry Potter. In his free time, he loved to work in the garden and tend to his roses and azaleas. He also recently rekindled his jewelry making hobby, a skill he learned as a young student at NSU.

Randy went to his eternal rest on Wednesday, August 23, 2023 in Tahlequah, OK with his family by his side. He was 72 years old. His compassion and care will live on in the memories of his family and patients. Randy is preceded in death by his father, Donn William, mother, Oddie, brother, Donn Roger, and wife, Catherine Jean Cunningham.

Those left to cherish his memory include three loving children, Austin Turner and wife Lua of Tahlequah, OK, Sarah Turner McGowen and husband Dustin of Las Vegas, NV, and Molly Turner of New York, NY. He also leaves behind his adored grandchildren, Grace and Liam McGowen of Las Vegas, NV as well as nieces and nephews, and a host of physicians, patients, friends, and loved ones.

A memorial service for Dr. Dorian Randall Turner, D.O. will be held on Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. at Reed Culver Funeral Home with refreshments to follow at the Branscum Alumni Center Great Room. Guests who wish to honor the spirit of Dr. Turner are asked to dress for his chosen teams, the Oklahoma Sooners or the Dallas Stars. The family had a private interment at Cookson-Proctor Cemetery in Cookson, OK on Friday, August 25, 2023.

Those wishing to share their condolences are asked to consider donating to the NSU Foundation in memory of Dr. Randall Turner at www.nsugiving.com. Memories or expression of sympathy for the family may be left at www.reedculver.com.