William “Frank” “Bill” Bishop Turner
4/3/1943-10/9/2014
Bill was born in Port Townsend, WA 4/3/1943. After suffering a debilitating stroke in January, he passed away in Renton, WA on 10/9/2014 with his sister, Carol, at his side. He was affectionately known as Frank, Bill, William or simply, WBT.
He was raised in Seattle and prior to graduating from Franklin High School, Frank, as he was known by family and school friends, spent summers and any time he could, on the Bishop Dairy Ranch in Chimacum, WA where his love of horses began. He was married twice. He remained friends with first wife, Candace (McQueen) Turner Clay. After retirement from Boeing he was briefly married to Mary (Leist) Arneson.
After graduating from High School he began using the name Bill. He worked at Longacres Race Track where he met his birth father, Joe Boyce, who was a successful breeder and trainer of Thoroughbreds. He attended Highline Community College where he played basketball. He loved team sports and in his last months often spoke of how his step father spent so much time coaching and helping him get to practice and games at the Rainier Field House. His work as a Quality Control Inspector at Boeing helped fund what became his passion, “owning and training Thoroughbred race horses.” He retired from Boeing in 2011.
Bill trained and ran horses at Longacres but also went to Eastern Washington, California and Vancouver BC. Those who knew him in any capacity knew his life revolved around horses.
He was proud of his Native American Heritage. Kathleen L. Bishop Turner, his mother, was very active in Indian affairs following in the tradition of her father, Senator William Bishop. The Senator was born on the Bishop Ranch in Chimacum, WA. and later inherited the Bishop Ranch when his father William Bishop (the Pioneer) moved to Port Townsend. Senator Bishop imported the first Holstein dairy cattle from Holland to the State of Washington and the Bishop Ranch became the Bishop Dairy Ranch. Senator Bishop was the first Native American to serve in the Washington State Legislature. Senator Bishop served for 34 years until his death. The Bishops held family gatherings on the Ranch and WBT loved these family events.
Senator Bishop’s mother, a full-blood Snohomish named Klastatute aka 'Sally' Wilson Bishop Williams, married, by Indian Custom, William Bishop. He was a pioneer who came by way of ship from England. He homesteaded in the Valley and later developed the Bishop Block in Port Townsend. William Bishop (the Pioneer) re-married and had sons who became active in local politics.
WBT is survived by his siblings Loren S Turner, Carol L Turner and Sally (Turner) Butler (Charles), niece Heather Butler Reinfeld (Jason) and great-niece Alana Reinfeld. He was a unique individual who lived his life on his own terms. He will be missed by all his friends and family. He was preceded in death by his mother Kathleen L. Bishop , his stepfather, Loren O. Turner and his birth father, Joe Boyce.
At his request there will be no memorial service. Family and Friends are invited to a Celebration of Life to be held Spring 2015 at Emerald Downs Racetrack. We would love to have friends and family attend the Celebration planned for the first Saturday after opening day of live racing. Please leave your thoughts and messages in the Comments section below. Donations in his name may be made to your favorite horse rescue charity.