Earl Turnbow

Services for Earl Turnbow, 78 of Fort Sumner, NM will be held at 11am Friday, June 6, 2014 at the Fort Sumner Church of Christ with Mr. Gary Good officiating. Burial will follow in the Turnbow family plot, Fort Sumner Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Logan Turnbow, Tim Turnbow, Landon Turnbow, Jason Saiz, Donte Schlomer, Nick Pope, and Brody Dyer. Honorary bearers will include all his law enforcement friends, and members of the area volunteer fire departments. Visitation hours will be Thursday from 11am to 6pm at the funeral home. Earl Turnbow was born July 14, 1935 in Haskell, Haskell County, Texas to the home of Earl and Pauline (Callaway) Turnbow. He passed away peacefully at his home on June 2, 2014. At the age of 3, his family moved to a little New Mexico settlement called Duro where they lived through his elementary school years, attending school at Vaughn, NM. His junior high years were in Clovis and his high school years were in Fort Sumner where he participated in all athletic sports. While in high school he placed second in the NM High School Rodeo finals. Earl worked for many area ranches where he made many lasting friendships. In 1972 Earl entered law enforcement and worked as a Deputy Sheriff for De Baca County. He was elected as Sheriff four terms, and was appointed Sheriff by special appointment for six months. He also served as a Deputy Medical Investigator for the Office of the Medical Investigator with the first class held in New Mexico. Earl attended the NM Law Enforcement Academy and received his NM Certification. He spent his last years in law enforcement in Pecos, NM. Earl married Loretta Walker on September 25, 1954. They made their home in Fort Sumner where they raised their family. Earl is preceded in death by his parents, two sisters Charlsie Ehlers, Billie Jo Jordan, and a brother Buddy Foote. Earl is survived by his wife of 59 years Loretta Turnbow of the family home in Fort Sumner, three sons Emmett Casey Turnbow and wife Sandy of El Paso, TX, Taylor Walker Turnbow and wife Melissa of Peralta, NM, and Patrick Earl Turnbow and wife Becky of Clovis, NM, also surviving are eight grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren along with a host of friends and relatives. Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 830 N. Fifth Street, Fort Sumner, NM. (575) 355-2311. To place an online tribute or sign the guestbook go to www.chavezfuneralhome.com