Farmington Masons Honor Wayne and Mary Turton, Long-time Area Residents

Long-time Farmington area residents Wayne and Mary Turton have been honored by the Farmington Masonic Lodge as they prepare to locate to Village Estates at the Pathways, a Masonic retirement community in Alma.

Farmington Lodge #151 and the Order of Eastern Star No. 239 have planted a weeping cherry tree on the southeast corner of the Masonic Hall, which stands at the intersection of Farmington Rd. and Grand River. A granite marker has been placed at its base to honor them for their years of love and dedication to Freemasonry.

Wayne Turton was involved in the early stages of the development of Pathways and in the creation of an approximately 200-bed nursing facility at the Michigan Masonic Home. The Turtons have both been very involved in the Masonic and affiliated Orders that call the Farmington Masonic Hall their home.

Wayne became a Master Mason on May 26, 1954 in Centerville, OH. He transferred to Farmington Lodge on Dec. 12, 1961 and served as Worshipful Master in 1974. The Turtons have both been very involved in the Order of Eastern Star and the Order of White Shrine of Jerusalem, which met in the Hall for many years. They were both very much involved in the restoration of the exterior of the Masonic Hall in 1977. The members did almost all of the work themselves.

Wayne has also served the Fraternity as: Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of Michigan Royal Arch Masons in 1978-79, Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Michigan in 1990-91, Governor General of the York Rite Sovereign College of North America (all of the United States and Canada) for two years in 2000 to 2002. He has also served many other Masonic Orders in various capacities and has received the coveted Scottish Rite 33rd degree.

After graduating from General Motors Institute in Flint, with a degree in Business Administration majoring in Accounting, Wayne worked at General Motors for 37 years and has been retired for 27 years. Mary worked at raising five wonderful children who have all contributed to the betterment of mankind. They all graduated from the Farmington Schools, which gave them a good start toward their careers.

All five children have college degrees in business, medical, engineering and educational fields.

Most of their 15 grandchildren have either finished college or contemplate getting a college education. One son and six of the grandsons are Eagle Scouts and one son and two of the grandsons have served or are serving in the Armed Forces. Two grandsons and one son are also Masons. Two granddaughters are working on advanced college degrees.

The Turtons have seen Farmington Township grow up from a rural community to a very vibrant city but are looking forward to a new chapter in their life.

--submitted by Hal Groat, Farmington Lodge #151