PARKVILLE, Mo. – William Breen Turley, 82, of Parkville, Missouri, passed away peacefully on the evening of Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024, in North Kansas City Hospital.
Breen was born in Waynesville, North Carolina, on June 21, 1942, to Ralph Hicks Turley Jr. and Rachel Kate Donaldson Turley. He married Barbara Jo Klinkhardt in August, 1968.
Together, they raised one son, Stephen Breen Turley. In his early years the family lived in Baltimore, Maryland, and Clarksburg, West Virginia. In 1953, after his father took a job with Saudi ARAMCO, Breen and his family moved to Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia.
He attended middle school at an ARAMCO school in Abqaiq and the first two years of high school at American Community School Beirut, Lebanon. He described these years as an incredible adventure and learning opportunity, often sharing stories of his time in the Middle East. Many of the friendships made in those years have lasted a lifetime.
During their time in Saudi Arabia, his family was able to visit 14 countries. He expressed a desire to return to Saudi Arabia to see how it developed and revisit Cyprus for its beauty. They returned to the States in 1958 and settled in Memphis, near his father’s family.
He finished high school at Memphis Central. Following high school, he followed his brother, Ralph, to the University of Tennessee, graduating with a business degree. His career included stints at Brown and Williamson, Block Drug, USS Agri-Chemicals and United Coatings.
The majority of his career was spent managing a coal transshipment facility in Keokuk, Iowa, for Orba-Johnson Transshipment Company (OJT). He was very proud of his time at OJT, particularly the opportunity to work with such a skilled and dedicated team. While working at Block Drug, Breen met his future wife Barbara.
He spoke of her as being witty, wise, loyal, loving, and a great mother. Subsequent to her passing, he missed her dearly and when confronted with a problem often asked, “What would Barbara say or do?” In 1979, Breen moved to Keokuk with his wife and son, not expecting to stay long, and ended up staying 25 years. He was an active bowler for many years and then transitioned to golf, playing countless rounds with his friends and son.
Among other activities, he was active in Keokuk Rotary and served on the board of the Keokuk Country Club. Most importantly, he made many enduring friendships. Post-retirement Breen spent time in Phoenix, Hot Springs Village, Murfreesboro, and Parkville enjoying unique experiences at each.
He had many good friends in Hot Springs Village. In Murfreesboro, he was reunited with his dear brother Ralph, niece Lauren and her family, nephew Rob and other college friends. Breen and Ralph had a very special relationship, helped take care of each other in their later years and, to quote Lauren, “were a hoot together.
” Breen spent his last years living with his son’s family in Parkville. He greatly enjoyed being able to spend with his son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren, Ella and Ben. His family was his pride and joy.
He loved to hear about their daily lives, school, work, sports, performances, and other activities and was enormously proud of their accomplishments. Ever humble, he refused any credit for the positive impact he had on his family. When thinking of Ella and Ben he wished he could have another 60 years to see what their futures hold.
Breen will be remembered for his gentlemanly manner, sense of humor, kindness, generosity, and independence. He loved watching and playing sports. He rarely missed a Tennessee Vols game and could often be found wearing “Big Orange.
” In his adult years he was a pretty good bowler and an admittedly average golfer. He was an avid reader across many genres, but particularly history and biographies. Following his father’s lead, Breen believed few things were as important as education and found ways to incorporate learning into his daily life and that of his family.
Breen is survived by his son Stephen (Erin) Turley; granddaughter Ella Breen Turley; grandson Benjamin Jenkins Turley; nieces Lauren Turley and Merritt Manning; nephews Scott Back, Kelly Back, and Robert Turley; sister-in-law Diana (Ed Yellen) Klinkhardt; and many cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Ralph; wife Barbara; sisters-in-law Stephanie Turley, Marliss Back, and Debra Manning; and brother-in-law Michael Back. A celebration of life/tailgate party to cheer on the Tennessee Vols will be held on Saturday, Aug.
31 at 11:30 a.m. at the Turley home (14255 NW 68th St.
, Parkville, Mo.). As Breen would want, we will keep it casual and serve barbecue.
Please feel free to wear “Big Orange” or your favorite team’s gear. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Keokuk Community School Foundation (PO Box 431, Keokuk, Iowa 52632) or the Keokuk Public Library (210 N. 5th Street, Keokuk, Iowa 52632).
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