Dr. Richard M. Turner

Richard Merrill (Dick) Turner, 92, passed away peacefully on July 9th, 2025, at his residence in Springfield, MO.
Richard was born at home on a snowy December night in Algona, Iowa on December 15th, 1932 to Gerald and Louise (Malone) Turner. As a child, his family resided in Iowa, Colorado and Nebraska. An accomplished musician from a very young age, he earned money playing clarinet in dance bands starting in 8th grade.
In 1955, following his graduation from Grinnell College in Iowa, Richard spent his Army basic (infantry) training in Arkansas, but ended up serving his country by playing in the Army Band while stationed in New Jersey and Kansas. After his service, Richard completed his MA in English at the University of Colorado, and in 1961 he, his former wife Sarah (Fuhrman), and their children Susan and Richard moved to Springfield where he took a teaching job at (then) Southwest Missouri State College (now Missouri State University). He returned to the University of Colorado in 1967 to complete his PhD and continue the teaching career at MSU that would see him touch the lives of thousands of students over the next 36 years.
Richard led a life sustained by his love of the arts and motivated by selfless giving to others, as evidenced by activities such as being a Little League baseball coach, serving as the faculty sponsor of MSU's first African American student organization, leading community Shakespeare study groups, volunteering at the Springfield Zoo and Springfield Art Museum, helping elementary school students develop their reading skills, playing clarinet in community and jazz bands, travelling extensively, including attending numerous Shakespeare plays over the years in Canada in London, and enjoying spending time with his family.
He is survived by his daughter, Susan (Hansen) and her husband Jim of Springfield; their children Laura Hansen (of Seattle) and James and his wife Meagan and their daughters Juniper and Marigold, of Springfield; son Richard and his wife Elizabeth and their sons Jordan and his wife Elizabeth and their daughter Lily; Nate and his wife Chelsea and their daughters Annabeth and Jocelyn; and Dylan, all of Springfield; nieces Elizabeth (Betsy) Flemming, of Colorado; and Virginia Petty, of New Mexico.
He was preceded in death by his parents Gerald and Louise (Malone) Turner; his former wife Sarah; his brother Jerry Turner and his wife Louise (Funk) Turner; and a niece, Kathy Richardson. A celebration of Richard's life will be held at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home,1947 E Seminole, Springfield, MO 65804, on Monday, 7/14/25, from 4 – 6 PM. The family requests that in lieu flowers, contributions be made to the Richard M Turner Scholarship at the Missouri State University Foundation https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1691/lg23/form.aspx?sid=1691&gid=2&pgid=508&cid=1177 .
Select the "I would like to write in my designation" box and then type the "Richard M Turner Scholarship" into the "Additional Gift Details" submission box. Nothing would please Richard more than knowing that future generations of MSU students will have their educational path aided in this way.
His family would like to thank Dr. J.T. Rogers and Dr. Don Myears, Dr. Jeffrey Heard and his staff, the staff at The Township Senior Living, and the staff at Seasons Hospice, for their extraordinary kindness, love, and care they all showed to Richard.
The Memorial Slideshow can be viewed here.