Terry Turlington

Terry Turlington, son of the late Charles Grundy Turlington and Dorris Eaton Turlington, was born May 24, 1940, in Dexter, Missouri, and departed this life July 25, 2024, at Delta South Skilled Nursing in Sikeston, Missouri, at the age of 84 years.

Terry grew up in Dexter and was a member of First Baptist Church in Dexter. He played basketball for Dexter High School from 1955-1958, coached by Percy Clippard. He was proud that the team he played on won the district championship in his junior and senior years and went on to the state tournament.

Terry was offered a full scholarship to Mizzou to play basketball under Coach Sparky Stalcup. His assistant was Norm Stewart. He graduated from Mizzou with a major in political science and a minor in physical education. He later gained his master’s degree in administration.

On April 14, 1963, in Dexter, Missouri, he was united in marriage to Pamela Weber. Terry and Pam moved to Kennett in 1963, when Terry was hired as head basketball coach at Kennett, coaching at Kennett for 15 years, before moving into administration. During this time, he was a high school referee in the Bootheel, which included games at the Bloomfield gymnasium during the Christmas Tournament. He spent 40 years in the Kennett public school system as basketball coach and later as high school principal before he retired in 2003. The whole time his wife, Pam, served as one of Kennett’s biggest fans.

Terry’s officiating career began in 1962 when he graduated from the University of Missouri. He began his career as a field judge and spent 15 years in that role before becoming head official, or the “white cap” for eight years before moving into the booth as a replay official. In 1978 he was tapped to officiate in the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association, a conference made up of the smaller Missouri colleges. He made trips to Warrensburg, St. Louis, Springfield and all over the state. In 1978 he was hired to referee in the Missouri Valley Conference and the Metro Conference. He officiated football games in those conferences from 1978 to 1995 in basketball and from 1978 to 2002 in football. During this time, he became a football official for the Big Eight. As time progressed, his career focused on the Big Eight (later Big 12) football games. He officiated in every major bowl game during his career, and he officially entered retirement at the end of the 2012 college football season, finishing 50 years as an official when he retired.

Following his retirement from Kennett, Terry and Pam moved back to Dexter in 2003. Terry and Pam enjoyed almost 45 years of marriage before she passed Jan. 28, 2008.

Terry is survived by his sons, Tim Turlington and wife, Kris, of Mexico, Missouri and Todd Turlington and wife, Shelly, of Jackson, Missouri; four grandchildren, Kali Turlington, Sidney Turlington, Ryan Turlington and Katie Christian; and his special friend, Pat Sharp.

Visitation will be held at First Baptist Church in Dexter from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024. Funeral services will then be conducted at First Baptist Church at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024. Interment will follow in Dexter Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to 18 Fore Life, c/o Scott Kruse, 705 Laurie Circle, Dexter, Missouri.

Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.