Zachary Jon (Zack) Turner

Zachary Jon Turner, 41, of Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully at home on the evening of Thursday, February 27, 2025. 

Born on March 9, 1983 Zack was the first born child of Douglas and Jean Turner. Zack spent his early years engrossed in the sporting world. Throughout his childhood and teenage years he played football, baseball, was an avid alpine skier, and went on many mountain biking adventures with his cousin Justin Bardwell. His love of skiing infiltrated his work life when he began a job at Competitive Edge Ski Shop at Berkshire East while also supporting the family business, Turner Tree & Landscape. 

Zack did not have children of his own but he played a fatherly role in more ways than one. As the eldest of his siblings, he stepped in as the patriarch of his family when his father, Douglas Turner, passed away in 2003. He shared an uncanny resemblance to his father in both looks and spirit. His siblings also referred to him as the “funcle” (fun uncle) due to his fun-loving relationship with his seven nieces and nephews. He was a constant in all of their lives. He was present at every dance recital, sporting event, and birthday party. They loved him dearly.

Zack’s life was committed to improving the world around him. He wanted to be seen as a community leader and someone that people could count on. In his own words, “I try to make things better for the people around me. When it’s all done, I want people to be able to feel my efforts well after I’m gone. To not have wasted my time here just being ordinary.” That was precisely his reputation. He was a leader, a supportive family member, a caring friend and most importantly, someone who could always be relied upon by his entire community. He grew up in a family that dedicated their lives to building up the community and being an integral part of it. He undoubtedly carried on that legacy. If he spent time making one person’s day better, then it was a day well spent. Zack was the type of person who would give a stranger the shirt off his back and did these small acts of kindness regularly and without asking for recognition. Giving to others gave him purpose in life. 

His propensity for public service began in high school when he served as Student Council President at Mohawk Trail Regional High School, where he graduated in 2001. His passion for philanthropy continued throughout his early adulthood and beyond with a lengthy list of volunteer work. Zack coached for both the Varsity Ski and Middle School Football teams at Mohawk. He was a vital part of the Buckland-Shelburne Youth Baseball League. One of his most recent efforts being fundraising for improvements at Cricket Field in Buckland. You could often find him flipping burgers there behind the grill during games. Zack’s volunteer efforts did not stop there; he was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles of Shelburne Falls and also helped serve Community Meals at Trinity Church in Shelburne Falls. He enjoyed spending his Friday nights bartending at the Bowling Alley of Shelburne Falls where he developed a strong bond with his regulars. Zack also served on the Select Board for the Town of Buckland, one of his notable efforts being the ban of single-use plastics.

His current positions as the Vice President of Health, Safety, and Environment at both Aztec Energy and Kinbro Inc. afforded him great flexibility in his down time. He enjoyed fly fishing and golfing. He was always interested in picking up new hobbies and bettering himself too, constantly searching for unique and stimulating ways to apply himself. Within the last year he picked up pottery-making and writing his own screenplay. He also served as an ordained minister and facilitated the marriages of several close friends. He and Molly Porter were married in September of 2019. 

He is pre-deceased by his father, Douglas Turner. He is survived by his mother and stepfather, Jean and Larry Bruffee; his siblings, Kiley Turner and husband James Heroux, Ross Turner and wife Alecia Turner, Laura Hartnett and husband Kyle Hartnett, Corey Bruffee and partner Helene Kasper, and Evan Bruffee; his nieces and nephews, Sloane, Maeve, and Lincoln Hartnett; Emery and Shay Heroux; and Jack and Sully Turner; his grandmother, Sandy Hanks; several aunts, uncles, and cousins; his dedicated lifelong friend, Abby Bassett Gilbert; many other cherished friends; his dogs Odie and Winnie; and his adopted orangutan, Linus, who resides at the Center for Great Apes in Wauchula, FL. 

Services are to be held at Trinity Church in Shelburne Falls on Saturday, March 8 at 11 a.m. followed by a reception at the Sweetheart Restaurant. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: 

-Buckland Shelburne Youth Baseball, P.O. Box 102, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370 or -Doug Turner Memorial Scholarship, (Checks made payable to Mary Lyon Foundation c/o Doug Turner Memorial Scholarship), P.O. Box 184, Shelburne Falls, Ma 01370

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