Turner, Truman and Nona Belle Smith

Lea County Families and Histories, "Then and Now" Vol II, 1984

Submitted by: Marshallene Turner Nessel

     Marshal Truman Turner was born in Eunice, New Mexico, June 13, 1917, the eldest son of W. H. "Heck" Turner and Hazel Marshall Turner. He attended school in Eunice from the first grade through the eighth grade. Since Eunice didn't have a high school at that time, his parents made arrangements for him to stay with the Babe Madkins family in Carlsbad. He graduated from high school in Carlsbad, in May 1934. Eunice had it's own high school by September of that year, so Truman enrolled in high school in Eunice so he could play football. When football season ended, he withdrew from school.

     He married Nona Belle Smith in Abilene, Texas, December 20, 1936, and brought her back to Eunice to live. During their early married years they moved around to such "big" places as Brownwood, Texas, Loco Hills, New Mexico and Hobbs. (Worked for Texas-New Mexico Pipeline Co.).

     The fall of 1946 Truman, Nona Belle and Marshallene moved back to Eunice. Truman and Nona Belle have stayed in Eunice that time. They owned the Eunice News, Gift & Flowers Shop  for several years Truman participated in the Rotary Club and Nona Belle in the Eunice Chapter of Business and Professional Women.

     Truman served on the Eunice City Counsel 1955 thru 1958;  as Eunice Police Judge 1959-1960; and as Lea County Commissioner 1961-62 and 1967-1968.

     Nona Belle worked for C. R. Anthony as bookkeeper/alterations lady when the new store opened in 1967. After that she managed Jen's Flowers in Eunice from 1960 until her retirement in 1970.

     April, 1968, while working for P & B Gas Co., Truman was burned in a propane fire in Eunice. His burns were serious, but not enough to discourage him from selling propane until his retirement in 1978. Since that time he has thoroughly enjoyed retirement, tinkering in his garage or yard, and visiting with friends around town.