Gwendolyn A. (West) Turner
Turner, Gwendolyn A. (West), 81, CASTLE HILL, at Bangor, June 12, 2010. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10 a.m., Wed., June 16, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Interment will be in Southside Cemetery, Mapleton. Arrangements in the care of Duncan-Graves Funeral Home.
CASTLE HILL – Gwendolyn Anna Louise (West) Turner was taken into God’s loving care surrounded by her cherished husband and family of nine children, 23 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, on June 12, 2010, at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. She was born on May 21, 1929, in Caribou, ME, to Sidney A. and C. Mary (Tarr) West. She was raised on the family farm in Castle Hill, graduated from Mapleton High School and went on to attend Aroostook State Teachers College/Normal School in Presque Isle. She married Alfred (Donald) B. Turner on June 23, 1948. Her vocation in life was to marry her soul mate, Don, to raise a large family, and to be her children’s first teacher. It wasn’t until her children were all in school full time, when she decided to work outside the home. For 30 years she was dedicated to feeding thousands of children in the MSAD#1 School Lunch Program, where she took much pride in her skill of cooking and managerial duties, but most of all in sharing her love for children while being their number one advocate. Her Food Service experience and love of children allowed her to further her passion and dedication to the Aroostook Teen Leadership Camp annually for nearly 20 years. She is well respected and known in Aroostook County for her outstanding Homemade Baked Bread and remarkable love for flowers.
Gwen was predeceased by her parents; brothers, Reginald, Galen, Paul Duane and Sidney Jr.; along with her son-in-law, Boyd E. Roope; and her grandson, Brock Elijah Hartt.
She is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Donald, of nearly 62 years who has also been her caregiver for the past eight years following her cancer diagnosis in 2002, in addition to her two sons, Donald R. (Butch) of Castle Hill, and his children Brian and wife Tyama, their children Chelsie, Ashley, and Meagan; Robert and significant other Lisa Hewitt, and her children Andrew and Alyssa Hewitt, Lindsey and her children Evan, Jerrin and Madison; Martin and his wife, Denise, and their children Kimberly and fiance’ Jim Hitchcock, Molly and Ethan; along with her seven daughters, Carol and her husband, Willie Soucy of Castle Hill and their daughter, Joanna and husband, Todd Newlands and their children Nicholas and Landyn, Nancy and her husband, James Saucier of Caribou and their children, Michael and wife, Renee and their children Austin and Kayla; Matthew and wife, Kim and their children Olivia, Caleb and Noah; Dustin and fiance’, Erica Martin and daughter Ashlynn; Annette Roope of Castle Hill and her children Melissa and husband, Nathan Maurais and son Edwin; and Jessica. Mary and her husband, Allen Michaud and their children Troy, Ryan, Angelie and husband, Tyler Thompson and their children Tayler and Easton. Alice and her husband, Dana McQuade of Mars Hill and their children, Andrew and wife, Lori and their children Maggie and Jack; and Andrea and husband, John Melton and their daughter Skyler. Julie and husband, Ervin (Perk) Perkins of Castle Hill and their children Kara, Kyle and Kurtis. Marcia and husband, Alton Hartt and their children Brandon and Katelynn. Also is her special sister, Wilma and husband, Lou Cattana of Corpus Christi, Texas.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10 a.m., Wed., June 16, 2010, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with the Very Rev. Jean Paul LaBrie officiating. Friends may call 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, at Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, 30 Church St., Presque Isle. Interment will be in Southside Cemetery, Mapleton. Donations may be made in her memory to Mapleton Elementary School Library, 1642 Main St., Mapleton, ME 04758 or to the Aroostook Teen Leadership Camp – c/o Jack Foster at P.O. Box 1018, Caribou, Maine 04736. Online condolences may be expressed at www.duncan-graves.com.
