It is with a sad heart that I'm passing along this news.

My good friend John Turner, owner of American Leathers, great human being, longbowman, houndsman and hunter, passed away quietly in his sleep yesterday morning. He suffered from PSP disease the last few years, and for someone that had spent a lifetime shooting arrows, hunting behind dogs, and then crafting handmade leather archery gear, it was a tough downhill trail. He kept his good attitude until the end, aided by his faithful wife Lori and even when I visited him last Saturday, he was able to rise up from the bed, shake my hand, look at me with a twinkle in his eye and crack a small joke.

I first saw John when I was a upstart teen. I walked into the local archery shop and saw a snapshot of a green plaid-clad hunter posing behind a big mule deer buck, Robertson longbow laying on it's side and Hill- broadhead-clad wood arrow resting in the antlers. I thought...now there's a bowhunter... and later I got the story how he shot the buck on a dead run at something around 40 yards after he'd actually messed up a stalk on a forkhorn. That was John. Plenty glad to try for the ordinary and take advantage when given the chance for grander things. I was glad for the opportunity to get to learn and become friends with John and we shared lots of hunting camps and arrow- shooting roves around the local desert and mountains. This is one of my favorite photos, taken during elk camp. We ran into the grouse heavy this particular afternoon.

Lori has said that American Leathers will continue on as has been the standard for the past 14 years. She has been taking a more active role the past 6 or 8 years and lately she's been doing it all, so no worries about the business going forward.

I'll sure miss him. I already miss his every phone call starting with "Hi Nate? John...."

Prayers for Lori, family and friends. Nice write up. RIP John.

Prayers up for the Turner family.

Prayers for the family and John

Nate, so sorry about John; prayers offered up for Lori, family and friends.

Shick

Sorry to see this. I’ve loved all of my American Leathers products. My condolences to Lori and those who were close to John.

Sorry to hear that.

My condolences to his family and friends.

Prayers sent . Thanks for sharing heart felt write up .

So sorry to hear this. Sorry for the loss of your friend Nate.

Beautiful Eulogy. Thank you.

Thanks for sharing your story and I’m saddened that you have lost such a good friend. Prayers for all.

Very sad to hear. I just talked to Lori 2 days ago. My condolences to his family and friends. Very nice eulogy Nate

Prayers for family and good friends

condolences to his friends and family.

Sorry to hear he has passed. Our prayers go with him and Lori.

Oh my, I’m devastated! John was my friend, too. We shared many Bear, Elk and Lion hunting excursions, as well as many stump shooting sessions, but in our case in the Idaho desert where there are no stumps, just sagebrush. Oh and I forgot rabbits. A more caring, loving and unassuming man/friend one will never meet.

Prayers and Condolences to Lori, Family and Friends. RIP, John!

Prayers up for John and Lori. Condolences to family and friends.

Sounds like a great friend who had a loving wife. Sorry for your loss Nate. Please pass along our condolences to his family.

Sorry to hear that. Prayers for you and his family from WV

Prayers and sympathies to the Family. We talked at a few longbow Safari’s . Nice guy to visit with. Prayers sent ,

Sounds like a marvelous guy. John obviously was a treasure. We keep losing the really good ones. So many dear friends and "Brothers of The Bow" have passed on. Peace, Strength and Blessings to his family and friends...

Prayers sent tothe family.

Murray

My sincere condolences and prayers to Lori and her family .

Prayers on the way

condolences to his friends and family.

Prayers sent for the family

Sorry to hear that Nate.

Sorry about the loss Nate. I know how much you both shared and how close you were.

Deepest condolences and prayers to his family!

Prayers sent forth for family and friends.

Thanks for sharing, Nate. That is a great picture of the two of you.

I have an arm guard and glove from John and Lori. They were so nice to do business with and their quality is top notch. Just like you. Excited my quiver is on its way from you.

I’ll be praying for the family.

Chad R in MI

RIP John.Prayers sent.

Prayer sent for his family.

God Bless his journey.

I'm so sorry to hear that. I met John and Lori at the Compton shoot and talked to him on the phone a few times. They are very good people.

That’s too bad, prayers for the family

Prayers for family and friends

Prayers for Lori and the family. Please excuse me but which one is John in the photo you posted?

He is on the left, Nate on the right!

That is truly a shame. Sorry to hear and my condolences to friends and family.

Nate: He looks familiar in that photo, so we must have crossed paths at some point. My deepest condolences to you and his family.

Bob

Sorry to hear this, thoughts and prayers sent

Prayers for Turner family and friends during this difficult time.

Bob, you would have surely seen him at the Traditional West Shows in Boise when you had your booth there.

Prayers sent for Lori and the family.

I met John at his booth at Kzoo. Great guy! I still use my fleece hunting gloves I got from him there. (My favorite of all time) Top notch all the way! Prayers to his family and friends.

He sold American Leathers products for years at the Longbow Safari's, Western States Rendezvous', went to KZoo. Had two outfitting businesses. Started Idaho Traditional Bowhunters along with some buddies including Larry Fischer. A quiet man, never pushed his hunting knowledge on anyone, just went out and did it. He really liked stalking mule deer in the desert, he called it "wonderin' and ponderin' " although I think if he had a favorite pastime, it was chasing lions with his hounds and hearing hound music through the rock-walled mountain canyons.

Prayers for the family from Michigan.

Nate, thanks for sharing your stories of John. I'm sorry I never got the chance to meet him. It's always the quiet, unassuming men who leave the biggest impressions.

Sending prayers for John on his journey to the big campfire,and prayers of strength and healing for Johns friends, family and especially his wife Lori.

Man,sure sorry to read this Nate. Sure sounded like a great guy to hunt and practice with. Sorry for your loss and especially Lori and the family. Praying for everyone.

I met John in 1995. Great guy! Well regarded houndsman and bowhunter. Rest peacefully John.

Sorry for your loss

The big shot glove is my favourite glove

Thank you for all the kind words, all of you....The Turner Family

Sorry for the loss of your friend Nate. My condolences to family.

Very sorry to hear. Sending prayers to family and friends

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