Biffley Turner

Biffley "Biff" Turner passed away early Wednesday morning,  October 13, 2021 at his home in Prineville,  Oregon,  after a courageous battle with heart and kidney failure.

Biff was born to Basal and Iva Dooley Turner on December 31st, 1935. Home was Harper, Oregon,  at the time.  He was the second son, joining brother Dail. Later sister Nadia was born, followed by sister LaRue. The family moved to Portland,  Oregon,  during the second World War. Both parents worked in the shipyards, their mother being a top welder. The moist climate was harmful to Biff's dad, so the family settled in the John Day Valley. They operated a small sawmill for several years.

Biff married just out of high school and moved to Renton WA where he worked at Boeing. Three children were born to this marriage; Debbie, Steve and Patti.  When that marriage ended, Biff was awarded custody oh his 3 children.  Arriving in Prineville in the late 1960's, he was employed (in this order) Hudspeth Pine, Pine Products and AL Henon Trucking. He could operate any type of equipment,  from cats to backhoes; any type of heavy equipment;  farm equipment,  from swathes, rakes balers and balewagons. He was fast operating a New Holland stack-cruiser, people driving down the road would stop to watch. He operated log loaders; also drove any kind of truck; log truck, dump truck, low-boys and long-haul trucks.  A master of machinery.

As his kids graduated from CCHS, he found his forever friend and soulmate Kathi. They married in May 1976 and recently celebrated 45 happy years together.  When Biff married Kathi, he became a step-dad to her sons Ryan and Kevin, but they will tell you he is "Dad". Being a dad was easy for Biff, just ask anyone who know him and called him dad. They will tell you they learned from him to be hard-working,  respectful of others, dependable,  humble and kind.

In 1993, when there were no children left home, Biff and Kathi bought a semi-truck and leased to haul goods in a dry van in 11 Western States,  later switching to a local broker licensed in 48 states, pulling dry vans and flatbed. During that period, Biff taught Kathi how to drive their truck; obtained her CDL, and they were a "team", giving a new meaning to the word. 

Six years later, Biff contracted a rare pneumonia,  which, during the process of being treated for that, destroyed his immune system and part of his lungs. So the trucking days were over, Biff retired and Kathi returned to work,  retiring in December 2006. 

Biff's passion in life were his wife Kathi and his family,  camping ( starting with tent camping with their horses, a pickup camper, 5th wheels and a motorhome) elk hunting, catching big fish (salmon, halibut, sturgeon), watching his kids, grandkids and "greats" play sports, bowling, watching the Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Mariners, the mountains,  especially the Ochocos and the Tetons.

His CB handle, back in "the day" was "One Shot" for his accuracy hunting.

Favorite song "On the Road Again"; we would sing whenever we hit the road in the semi or RV.

Survivors include wife Kathi, daughter Debbie husband Danny (West Jordan,  UT), son Steve and wife Kathy (Kingston, GA), daughter Patti and husband Jack (Prineville), stepson Ryan and wife Melissa (Hermiston, OR), stepson Kevin and wife Brandi (also from Hermiston), a "blended" 11 grandkids and 20 plus "greats", many nieces and nephews and cousins, sister LaRue. 

Preceded in death by his parents, his brother Dail, and sister Nadia.

The family wishes to acknowledge Partners in Care Hospice,  especially the caregivers  for their kindness and exemplary care during Biff's end-of-life journey.  A celebration of life will be held in late spring or early summer 2022.

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