Elmer P. Turner (1890 – 1966)

Elmer Page Turner was married to Ila McAfee. Their home was the White Horse Studio in Taos, New Mexico. I knew Ila McAfee very well. She was a friend of my parents, Lola and Wesley Freeburg. I only met Elmer Turner one time back in the 1950's. He was shell-shocked during World War II and was unable to continue with his painting after that time. That was the story I was told.

One of the things I enjoyed most as a child visiting the Turners was watching their cat Sanka perform. Sanka was a Siamese cat they named Sanka because from the time they got her as a kitten she slept right through the night and never awakened them meowing. They taught her to play piano, pull a wagon, all sorts of cute tricks. I am not aware that they ever had any children, but they were extremely fond of Sanka -- Make a short film of her that I got to see. I don't know if the film ever went into production as a movie short, or was just for their enjoyment. She was a remarkable feline.

After Mr. Turner died Ila McAfee traveled extensively, painting all sorts of animals in places like South America. I have letters she sent my Mother.

This biography from the Archives of AskART:
The following was submitted April 2004 by Ramona "Sue" Day